Three property owners whose homes were destroyed by Tropical Storm Irene just got word that FEMA will not approve them for a federal program that buys flood-damaged properties.
In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene, some property owners in Vermont cleared away their flood-damaged homes that were on the brink of collapse.
The property owners were concerned that if they left their damaged homes standing it would create a safety hazard---and put them at risk of liability.
But FEMA denied the homeowners’ applications for the hazard mitigation buy-out program because the homes had been previously demolished.
The state appealed on behalf of the towns, but this week FEMA denied the appeals for properties in Sharon, Pittsfield and Braintree.
The state is advising the towns that a second appeal would be unlikely to prevail.
The state will try to get the buy-outs funded under the Community Development Block Grant Program, which prioritizes primary homes. The state says it will also try to assist second homes, but it’s not clear yet if there is enough CDBG funding.
