The city wants to buy the homes and tear them down. No new buildings will be permitted in their place, O Bannon explained. The program is strictly voluntary. No one who wants to stay will be forced to sell, the governor noted. This hazard mitigation project will break the cycle of damage and repair, Governor O Bannon said.
Taxpayers save money in the long run by avoiding the cost of rebuilding.
And, of course, the families involved will no longer have to go through the ordeal of gathering up their prized possessions at a moment s notice, heading for high ground and worrying about what will be left once the flooding subsides. We hope that residents who live in these targeted areas will take advantage of this program, which will create a safer environment for their families. Those federal dollars will pay 75 percent of the cost. The city will pay the balance.