Harris County Awarded $25.6M For Post-Harvey Buyout Plan

HOUSTON, TX — The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded the Harris County Flood Control District $25.6 million that will help support the county’s home buyout program.

The funding, coupled with $8.6 million from the county, will allow the Harris County Flood Control District to buyout 169 homes.

The announcement came just days after Harris County Judge Ed Emmett announced a proposed $2.5 million Flood Control Plan, that if approved by county commissioners on June 12, would be placed on the ballot on Aug. 25.

Harris County plans to host 23 information meetings about the plan, as well as solicit input from county residents about flood control needs in their areas.

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The first of those meetings will be held on Tuesday, at the Hiram Clarke Multi-Service Center.

RELATED: County Judge Announces $2.5B Flood Control Plan

Meanwhile, the affected homes are scattered throughout the Houston area and have already been assessed as substantially damaged.

The county requested enough funding to purchase at least 1,000 homes that qualified for the flood buyout program, which would require a 25 percent match and come at a cost of $218 million, KPRC reported.

County commissioners are expected to consider the match, as well as the ballot referendum, on June 12.

Image: The top of a fire hydrant sticks out of floodwaters in front of a home. Over a week after Hurricane Harvey hit Southern Texas, residents are beginning the long process of recovering from the storm. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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