retroFIT Floodproofing Program

About the Program

Category: County Resiliency (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

Background: Prior to FEMA regulation of floodplains in 1978, many homes were constructed in flood-prone areas in Mecklenburg County. Despite other mitigation efforts, nearly 2600 homes remain in the floodplain, meaning 2600 families may be at-risk of a flooding disaster. Strategy: Increase community resiliency through reduction of future flood losses by developing an on-site mitigation program to provide local competitive grant funding for mitigation as well as customized face-to-face technical assistance for property owners. Implementation: This multipronged program required adoption of legislation allowing Mecklenburg County to distribute fee-based revenue to local property owners via stormwater grants, a first for the State of North Carolina. Upon approval, the program identified onsite mitigation strategies and best practices eligible for grant funding. An online application was developed to allow the public to verify eligibility for the program. Initial funding was approved for the program by the Board of County Commissioners. Public outreach included postal notification, social media advertising, and earned media strategies. Applications were accepted during specified timeframes, maximizing staff response capabilities. A technical assistance protocol was developed for each private inquiry. Results: Early results show that 204 property owners applied for onsite mitigation funding and technical assistance. Of those, 79 properties were identified as eligible for onsite mitigation technical assistance. 57 of those property owners learned of mitigation strategies specific to their property. 9 Property owners received engineering advice for future grant applications, remaining eligible in future fiscal years. 5 Projects have been approved for $33,000 grant funding and are underway. Another 24 projects are currently under review for grant funding, totaling an additional $406,000. Sustainability and Evaluation: Funding for this program is forecast to continue beyond the pilot year of the program. Outreach efforts will be enhanced to improve response.