FEMA Approves $3.6 Million for Horton Avenue Flood Relief

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has officially approved a $3.6 million plan to provide flood relief for Horton Avenue residents whose homes were damaged in a 2010 nor'easter, officials said on Thursday.

"What was good here was you had everyone from the town to [County Legislator] Ed Romaine to state representatives to Congressman Bishop identify this as the top priority," said Jon Schneider, Deputy Chief of Staff to Rep. Tim Bishop, D-Southampton.

Three million dollars from the deal will be used to purchase back 12 Horton Avenue properties that were submerged and heavily damaged in flooding rains in April 2010. Of that $3 million, the federal government will pay for a $2.24 million share, with Suffolk county and the town splitting the remaining costs.

Residents will receive fair market value for their homes, Schneider said, and can then choose where to purchase new ones.

"Homeowners have the chance to start over," he said. "We're not going to force them where to live."

The damaged homes will then be demolished and an artificial wetland will be built in their place to help improve storm drainage in the area.

"Now in future events you'll have water can basically drain into that area to protect other homes," Schneider said. "This all comes back to the determination that really those homes should probably have just never been built on that location."

The remaining $600,000 will be used to manage storm runoff from upland farms in the area.

The FEMA hazard mitigation grant was in the works for the past 20 months, Congressman Bishop said three months ago when approval for the grant money was tentatively announced.

"It's a great thing, and I think it's a testament to the persistence of the residents of Horton Avenue and I think it frankly shows that government can work," Bishop said in July. Bishop could not be reached for further comment.

Local government officials from the town, state and federal governments will meet Horton Avenue residents on Friday at 4 p.m. to discuss the new deal and answer questions.