Westport Residents To Receive Sandy Hazard Mitigation Grants

WESTPORT, Conn. -- Six Westport residents have received grants from FEMA to help pay for part of the costs to elevate their homes to protect against future floods and storms.

Six Westport residents were awarded federal funds to protect against future weather-related disasters such as Hurricane Sandy.
Photo Credit: *Charles Barthold, File*

Joe Jenkins

10/16/2014 5:00 a.m.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded a total of $587,441 in Hurricane Sandy Hazard Mitigation Grants to six Westport residents, according to First Selectman Jim Marpe.

This is the second round of grant awards given to Westport residents. Under the Hurricane Irene Disaster relief, grants totaling $1,905,802 were awarded for five residential home elevations, three land acquisitions, and a replacement emergency standby generator for the police department.

“These new grants will help families that were battered by Irene and Sandy to elevate their homes and make our community more resilient to future storms,’’ Marpe said in a statement. “Being the first to receive Superstorm Sandy grant awards is quite an accomplishment considering that this funding, targeted for storm ravaged homeowners, was almost reallocated from Westport by the state for other purposes.”

About 24 other Hazard Mitigation grants totaling $2,297,304 have been submitted by Westport and are awaiting a decision by FEMA.

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