Bellaire property owners who suffered damage from Hurricane Harvey and are considering elevating their homes have until Aug. 31 to pre-apply through the city for a federal assistance program that could cover 75 percent of the costs of raising their structures.
The city is applying for the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to lessen long-term risk from flooding. There is no guarantee Bellaire will receive funds, and the requirements for individual property owners are very specific:
•The city would use grant funds to elevate structures that do not currently meet Bellaire’s minimum standards of 1 foot above base flood elevation (BFE). The existing home would be lifted so that the lowest floor is at least one foot above the expected flood elevation, and a new foundation would be built.
•Property owners would be responsible for the 25 percent of the costs not covered by grant funding — with the total cost estimated to be $30,000 or more. Because of the nature of the work, relocation expenses would also be required.
•Applicants must be insured through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program at the time of their application to qualify and must maintain the insurance throughout the building process.
•Properties already elevated are not eligible for the program.
•Although an elevation certificate from the city is not required during the pre-application process, it will be required for the formal, city application.
A city staff member will contact pre-applicants, and once properties are identified as meeting FEMA requirements, they will be added to Bellaire’s application.
For more information about the flood mitigation grant, click here.
Additional information is available from Marleny Campos in Development Services, 713-662-8241 or mcampos@bellairetx.gov.
To fill out the pre-application form, click here.
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