Flood Mitigation Assistance Program
The Program
The average 100-year flood 24-hour rainfall amounts have increased by 1 to 2 inches in southern New England since the 1960s. This heightened intensity of rainstorm events has led to an increase in property damage, particularly in coastal areas and along waterways. In an effort to reduce the vulnerability of communities to these climate change effects, federal funding programs have been expanded to support flood prevention and mitigation. However, resource limitations at the local, regional and state levels can hinder or prevent grant funding from reaching communities in need.
As a service to our municipalities, WestCOG has established a Regional Flood Mitigation Assistance Program. This program offers technical assistance to Municipalities and property owners within participating communities to pursue these funding opportunities.
Services
- Developing and implementing strategies to maximize federal and state assistance;
- Providing grant application, maintenance, reporting and closeout services related to mitigation projects and recovery from disaster for submittal to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and CT Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS);
- Representing WestCOG and its member communities with State and Federal partners (e.g. FEMA, DEMHS) as necessary;
- Supporting implementation of WestCOG’s Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan by prioritizing strategies with greatest benefit and relevance to flood hazard risks unique to WestCOG region municipalities.
Resources
On October 27th, 2022, WestCOG and Dewberry Engineers hosted an evening workshop for affected property owners to educate them about the available funding programs and assist them with the grant process.
Up Next
WestCOG is administering this program in close cooperation with its member communities. Ongoing activities will include dissemination of information on the federal programs to the public. WestCOG plans to hold additional public information sessions that will be publicized at a later date. A mailer will also be sent out to property owners in the coming weeks to provide more details on the services provided. For more information, contact WestCOG Program Manager, Jaclyn Reelick
Jaclyn Reelick
(475) 323-2067
jreelick@westcog.org.