State awards supplements to local governments for buyout of properties flooded by Hurricane Matthew 

The Department of Public Safety recently notified local governments about awards of State Acquisition Relocation Funds (SARF) totaling $28.2 million, which will help these cities, towns and counties complete acquisitions of repetitively flooded properties and help residents move out of floodplains into more resilient housing. 

For homeowners who have accepted acquisitions (buyouts) through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for Hurricane Matthew, up to $50,000 in SARF funding can be provided by local governments to fill the gap between what the homeowner receives for their flood damaged property and what is needed to get them into a similar home outside the floodplain.  Additionally, SARF can provide up to $5,000 to help with homeowner relocation expenses, based on applicable regulations.  Local governments can receive $5,500 per project to cover the management costs of the property acquisition, including title work, appraisals and legal fees.

SARF is provided to local governments on a reimbursement basis for funds expended.  The actual amount a local government will be reimbursed after it acquires properties may not reach the total amount of the awards listed below, as the maximum authorized amount of $60,500 per project may not have been expended.

The following local governments were recently sent Memorandums of Agreement for funding from State Acquisition Relocation Funds in the following amounts: