Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Tuesday, September 29, 2009
(FRANKLIN, IN) - Franklin is the latest Indiana city to get a FEMA grant to buy and demolish homes damaged by last year’s record flooding.
The city will use the nearly $5-million dollar grant to buy up to 75 homes. Martinsville got a $3-million dollar FEMA grant last week to buy 32 homes.
The FEMA program is paying 75-percent of the cost of purchasing homes at pre-flood market value. The cities are responsible for funding the remaining 25-percent.
Rachael Meyer with the Indiana Department of Homeland Security says once the houses are demolished, the land will be returned to open green space.
Cities could turn it into parks or soccer fields for example, but future development in those flood-prone areas will not be allowed.
Meyer says many more Hoosier cities are on the list to receive FEMA grants for the land reclamation program.
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