Latest news with #CommunityDevelopmentBlockGrant–DisasterRecovery
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Millions approved to fund hurricane resilience projects across Orange County
More than $85 million in federal funds will soon be used to improve Orange County communities that were hit hard by Hurricane Ian. Orange County Commissioners approved funding on Tuesday to help communities prepare for and withstand future storms. It will support 14 local projects, including four in the City of Orlando, two in the City of Ocoee and one in Winter Garden, Winter Park and the Town of Eatonville. Orange County will also use a portion of the funding to improve stormwater infrastructure in Orlo Vista, Long Lake, Verona Park and the Bonnie Brook communities. Longtime Bonnie Brook resident Jim Tadlock told Channel 9 he's still rebuying furniture after losing everything during Hurricane Ian nearly three years ago. 'I bought a living room, dining room and all new appliances,' said Tadlock, 'Everybody on this street lost everything.' But Tadlock is hopeful that a new project set to upgrade existing pumps and construct a new stormwater pump station at the west end of Applecross Street could make a big difference. Commissioners approved $1.5 million for the project as part of the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program. Tadlock, along with Bonnie Brook resident Denise George and Bonnie Brook Homeowners Association President Deborah Marley, had advocated for improvement for years. 'We just started pushing and nagging, and I guess it worked,' said Marley. This funding is part of a $219.7 million allocation received by Orange County through HUD. In addition to awards for public infrastructure, $35 million remains, as part of the CDBG-DR program, available for homeowners with unresolved Hurricane Ian damage through the Orange County Recovers program. Applications are open through the summer. Marley continues, 'You still have people trying to get back into their houses. We've got one guy that just moved back in.' You can learn more about the help for homeowners still recovering here. And explore the other projects via this link. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Volusia County approves hurricane recovery plan with $20 million for home buyouts
Volusia County will spend up to $20 million to buy properties that have flooded multiple times. The money is part of a $135 million grant from the federal government meant to help the area recover from Hurricane Milton and prepare for future storms. The program could be a game-changer for people in Midtown who are still recovering from past storms. Homes still sit empty nearly three years after Hurricane Ian, and those who were able to make repairs finally started to move back in last year, only to be met with more flooding from Hurricane Milton. 'I just moved back into my home about a month or two ago and right now I am scared to death,' said long time Midtown resident Cynthia Slater. Slater who is also the president of the NAACP in Daytona Beach has gutted her house five times and like many of her neighbors, is running out of resources to rebuild or relocate. 'We are stuck where we are unless we sell the house, but again, who is going to buy a house that has been known to flood three, four, five times?' said Slater. Help could be on the way for homeowners in her situation. Volusia County leaders have plans to spend $20 million to purchase properties that habitually flood. They'll then be demolished and turned into retention ponds or open space. The county will provide up to $400,000 for buyouts. The amount given to homeowners will be based on the property's pre-storm appraisal value. Slater said at this point, anything would put people in a better situation. 'They didn't have the money to get things done. I mean it's been 8 months now and people are still tearing out walls, throwing out furniture, it's really sad,' said Slater. It's not clear which cities will get this funding or how individual homeowners will be selected. But the county hopes to have a better idea once it gets some applications together in the coming months. Click here to find more information about how the county will allocate the rest of the funds. A Hurricane Milton recovery plan approved by the Volusia County Council during its May 6 meeting will direct $100 million of federal grant funds into stormwater improvements, future storm protection, and voluntary buyouts to support flood-impacted homeowners. The $133.5 million plan, funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program, focuses on long-term resilience and helping the community rebuild stronger. Approximately $80 million will be invested in infrastructure and mitigation projects that strengthen stormwater systems, upgrade outdated drainage, and reduce vulnerability to future storms. These funds will be used to partner with Volusia County municipalities and nonprofit organizations to repair damage caused by Hurricane Milton and build infrastructure that helps protect communities across the county from future disasters. Another $20 million will be used to fund a voluntary buyout program to assist property owners in high-risk areas who have experienced repeated storm damage. Once acquired, the land will be preserved as open space or used for floodplain restoration, reducing the risk of future damage while contributing to long-term community resilience. In addition, $20.2 million is set aside for a repair and replacement program to help eligible low- to moderate-income homeowners rebuild their lives. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sen. Durbin pushes back on proposed cuts to disaster recovery programs
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin's office says he joined other senators in pushing back on U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner's proposed cuts to disaster recovery programs that are under the umbrella of HUD. Officials say the cuts would reduce employees at HUD's office of Community Planning and Development, which administers the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program, a crucial pot of funding that helps impacted communities with disaster recovery following extreme weather events including tornadoes and severe flooding. Under this program, Illinois is scheduled to receive more than $856.3 million for disaster recovery, which would likely be in jeopardy due to the cuts. Officials with Sen. Durbin's office explain this disaster relief work includes rebuilding houses and small businesses, repairing roads and bridges, restoring water services and investing in workforce development for Illinoisans who've lost jobs. Remembering the 1925 Tri-State Tornado The lawmakers released the following statement: 'Communities across the country experienced significant natural disasters in 2023 and 2024… Alaska, Louisiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Illinois experienced severe storms. CDBG-DR provides states, cities, counties, and Tribes with funding to support recovery efforts in the wake of natural disasters. In December 2024, Congress appropriated $12 billion in emergency supplemental CDBG-DR funding. During your confirmation process, you made clear that, if confirmed, you would prioritize getting our constituents CDBG-DR funding as quickly as possible.' 'Specifically, you [Secretary Turner] stated that 'one of [your] top priorities' as HUD Secretary would 'be to ensure that the disaster recovery funding passed by Congress gets out to communities swiftly' and 'into the hands of Americans who have been impacted by recent disasters.' Your statements indicated a strong commitment to providing our disaster-impacted communities with the resources they need, but we are concerned that recent actions at the Department have not matched that verbal commitment. We urge you to immediately stop any additional cuts to the workforce and contracts involved in disaster recovery oversight, and reinstate any recently terminated probationary staff.' Multiple senators A copy of the letter can be seen below. 2025.03.17-Letter-to-Secretary-Turner-on-CDBG-DR-Workforce-and-Program-CutsDownload 'Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
