U.S. Senator Susan Collins today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has informed her that it is awarding the Town of Canton a grant in the amount of $2,157,678 to assist in acquiring and demolishing structures that repeatedly flood. The award comes as part of FEMA’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program.
“The residents of Canton suffered greatly when the Androscoggin River flooded their town just days before Christmas in 2003,” said Senator Collins, Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, which has oversight of FEMA. “These funds, in addition to funds the town received two years ago, will assist officials in Canton complete the acquisition of properties that sit in the floodplain therefore reducing the risk of dangerous and costly flooding in the future.”
According to FEMA, Canton has 66 structures identified as being in the floodplain. These properties are at risk of significant property loss and/or at risk of loss-of-life due to isolation by flood. Canton has completed, or is in the final stages of completing, the acquisition and removal of 35 structures with the $3.9 million awarded by FEMA in 2005. This new award of more than $2.1 million will be used to acquire and demolish the remaining 26 properties. Several property owners have decided not to participate.
After the properties are purchased, the buildings will be demolished and Canton will use the land to create a park. The town will provide routine maintenance.
The Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) submitted the grant application on behalf of the Town of Canton and will administer the award. The Canton project was selected through a national competitive process. Only one-third of submitted projects were selected for award. The PDM program was created through the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 as a “pre-disaster” source of funds to mitigate against natural hazards and to complement the post-disaster Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).
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