{"id":1598,"date":"2024-04-24T12:40:03","date_gmt":"2024-04-24T16:40:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/blueacres\/?p=1598"},"modified":"2024-04-24T15:24:25","modified_gmt":"2024-04-24T19:24:25","slug":"blue-acres-receives-approval-for-a-second-batch-of-fema-flood-buyout-funding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/blueacres\/blue-acres-receives-approval-for-a-second-batch-of-fema-flood-buyout-funding\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue Acres Receives Approval for a Second Batch of FEMA Flood Buyout Funding"},"content":{"rendered":"

April 24, 2024<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Image Credit: Firefighters assist in the evacuation of New Milford residents after flooding. Tariq Zehawi\/NorthJersey.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Federal Emergency Management Agency <\/span>(FEMA) has approved Blue Acres buyout funding for an additional 37 properties, following the <\/span>first batch approval<\/span><\/a> for fourteen properties in January, as part of the $50 million Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) allocation for voluntary buyouts in New Jersey. Many of these 37 homes were impacted by severe flooding in April 2022, December 2023 and\/or January 2024, in addition to damages sustained during Ida in 2021. <\/span>Blue Acres staff notified the owners of these 37 properties immediately via phone calls, emails, and certified mail. <\/span>Blue Acres also assigned case managers to begin guiding the homeowners throu<\/span>gh the steps to receive a for<\/span>mal bu<\/span>yout offer.<\/span> This second<\/span> batch approval brings the total of obligated post-Ida HMGP funds to $23.6 million.\u00a0<\/span>Sixty-three properties remain under review and Blue Acres notified these <\/span>homeown<\/span>ers that while the wait for approval continues, program staff are ready to hit the road running as soon as the approval is issued by FEMA.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Blue Acres is a voluntary buyout program that only works with willing sellers. The buyout process remains fully voluntary from application to closing day.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All properties proposed for HMGP funding meet State and FEMA criteria for reducing flood hazard risks to life and property. Among the priority categories represented by the 37 homes in Batch 2:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n