Adopting successful buyout templates

When I started working on a plan for our community, I was advised to consider other successful buyout models across the country. Nashville’s buyout program was initiated by Metro Water Services. The program focused on buying high-risk homes by partnering with TEMA and FEMA, in order to facilitate the process. MWS contacted FEMA and TEMA to develop a voluntary buyout program, to purchase properties located in flood-prone areas. After enduring constant flooding, Mill Creek turned for help in order to be better prepared for a future disaster. In 2003, TEMA proposed a plan to buy 20 of the most affected homes using HMGP funding, and residents immediately accepted. In 2010, there was another hurricane that flooded most of the houses in Mill Creek. Once other homeowners accepted the buyout offer from TEMA, the properties could be renounced to nature. Their voluntary buyout program, like the Oakwood Beach Buyout program, prohibited future developments on the buyout properties.These properties are now managed by the parks department.

Randy Douglas, chairman of the Essex County Board of Supervisors, also explained what his county had done in their pursuit for a buyout. After Hurricane Irene, more than 20 homes prepared to sell their homes, as part of a federal buyout program. Homes could only apply to the buyout program if they were in the “100-year flood plain,” and be severely damaged. As highlighted by FEMA, the county had to establish the market price of the properties, and once approved, FEMA would cover 75% of the total project costs. Then, the property owners would have 30 days to accept the county’s offer

Both of these case studies presented our committee with tools that could be used to facilitate managed retreat efforts in our community. Our hope is that our experience will do the same with other communities, as we are the first successful community led buyout.