Shelby County Office of Preparedness

Hazard Mitigation

The Hazard Mitigation Division’s focus is to provide a comprehensive threat reduction and loss avoidance program that protects people and property from their exposure to natural and technological hazards.

Through its Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability assessments at the state and local level, the Division provides enhanced information for officials and decision-makers to reduce the impacts of both disasters and emergency needs, lessening financial impacts to state and local government while ultimately saving lives.

Flooded Shelby County Homeowners Invited to “Buyout” Program Information Session

Due to the extensive, historic flooding in Shelby County, Tennessee, a Presidential Disaster Declaration was issued on May 4, 2010. As a result, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program or HMGP has been made available. The HMGP is a federal grant program that assists states and local communities with long-term hazard mitigation plans after a major disaster declaration. Administered by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, the HMGP provides funds to the city and county to acquire flood-damaged properties. If property owners are eligible, they can sell their property. The property will then be converted to open spaces and permanently maintained as such.

To be eligible for property acquisition, homeowners must meet the following criteria:

Flooded property must have sustained substantial damages from the May 2010 floods, The cost of restoring the structure must equal to or exceed 50% of its pre-flooded market value.

Flooded property must be a primary residence or a place of business.

Flooded property must be located in a floodplain or if it is not located in a floodplain, the structure must have been flooded twice in the past ten years.

To find out more about this grant program, the Shelby County Office of Preparedness invites homeowners effected by the May flooding to attend an information session on Thursday, August 26, 2010, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., at the Bartlett Station Municipal Center, 5868 Stage, Bartlett, TN 38135. Free parking. Everyone welcome.