Hazard Mitigation: FEMA HMGP – Residential Elevation

The City of Tybee Island, a barrier island in Chatham County, Georgia is highly prone to flooding. In 2017, the community was hit by Hurricane Irma, resulting in extensive flooding and damages to residential homes. FCMC works alongside the City of Tybee Island as well as GEMA and FEMA to reimburse homeowners for the costs associated with elevating their homes above the base flood elevation and out of risk for future flood loss.

• 12 repetitive loss homes approved for funding. Cost share split was 75% Federal, 10% State, 15% subrecipient (homeowner)
• HMGP applications developed and processed resulting in 5 elevated and flood mitigated homes
• $633,988.19 in total Engineering/Permitting and Construction costs were reimbursed to homeowners for the duration of the project.

Tybee Island is a barrier island located 18 miles east of Savannah. Due to being a low-lying barrier island, Tybee Island is vulnerable to tidal flooding. In 2017, Tybee Island was hit by Hurricane Irma and the community experienced extensive residential loss and damage due to flooding. Because of its location, Tybee Island is susceptible to repetitive loss from flooding due to hurricanes and even less severe storms. The Island has several repetitive loss and severe repetitive loss properties located in special flood hazard areas (SFHA).
Projects like this where the subrecipient is a homeowner provide unique challenges as the homeowners will need to be displaced, meet the financial match requirement, and manage a construction project as most are unfamiliar with these types of projects. Our objective was to educate and guide the homeowners through the grant lifecycle while maintaining accurate records, meet grant compliance requirements, and support the City’s goal of mitigating properties against future flood risk.

Pre-elevation

During Elevation

Post-elevation

The City of Tybee Island was awarded the first Home Elevation Grant to elevate 12 homes above the base flood elevation. Homeowners who complete the process of elevating their home above the base flood elevation typically receive greatly reduced flood insurance premiums and the assurance that future flooding is highly unlikely. YA Group was charged with supporting The City of Tybee Island in assisting with the grant lifecycle and helping process reimbursements for the homeowners as well as the city.

YA Group staff visited the community and conducted a kick-off workshop to inform homeowners of the grant and the process associated with elevating their homes. YA Group staff was the liaison between GEMA/FEMA and the City of Tybee Island. Our staff was also the main point of contact for homeowners and the liaison between the homeowners and the City of Tybee Island. YA Group assisted homeowners with the process of acquiring site plans/drawings for the elevation of their home, enlisting general contractors to complete the work, and processing reimbursements for the costs associated with the elevation throughout each project.

The City of Tybee Island has another Home Elevation Grant in progress (Batch One) and one on the horizon (Batch Two) for a total of 49 homes that YA Group will also manage on behalf of the city. This future project will be the largest home elevation grant ever awarded for the State of Georgia. YA Group continues to provide assistance and hazard mitigation opportunities for the City of Tybee Island.