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ollowing Tropical Storm Helene, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has opened a grant opportunity for Hyde County homeowners to elevate their houses above base flood elevation through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

    This program provides funding to local governments to develop hazard mitigation plans and rebuild in ways that reduce future disaster losses. The funding allows structures to be elevated above known flood levels, preventing or reducing future flood losses.

    To be eligible, properties must be below base flood elevation and located in Special Flood Hazard Areas or on a repetitive loss list. FEMA considers a property a repetitive loss if it has had two or more flood insurance claims over $1,000 paid by the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978.

    Hyde County will prioritize primary residence homeowner applications due to limited funding availability. The program covers 100 percent of elevation costs, but applicants should be aware that the typical timeline from application submission to award is approximately 3-5 years.

    Once awarded, the state will select a qualified contractor to elevate the home within 60-90 days. Property owners who submitted applications for previous storms should re-apply during this process, as Dorian applications require separate consideration.

    To apply, homeowners must follow these steps: complete a 5-minute Grant Information Request, return an application after receiving an email from a North Carolina Emergency Management team member, and receive Hyde County approval. Homeowners must ensure all parties listed on the property deed have signed the application.

    Applicants will need to collect flood insurance information, photos of the property, and other required items for consideration. Local homeowners should submit applications as soon as possible to ensure inclusion in Hyde County's application.