Tampa - A Holmes Beach family will rise above a flooding problem that’s soaked their home several times.
The South Harbor Drive home of Joe and Charlene Kennedy has been flooded three times in the last ten years. But now a partnership between the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will help them build a new elevated home with important disaster-resistant features.
FEMA’s Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program offers owners of repetitively flooded homes financial assistance to remodel or rebuild to minimize or eliminate future flood losses. FMA is a pre-disaster grant program to homes insured by the National Flood Insurance Program.
Under a new agreement with IBHS, FEMA will also pay 75% of the cost to upgrade the home to the standards of “Fortified…for safer living”, an IBHS program of affordable construction options that safeguard homes and families against natural disasters. Kennedy, a licensed contractor, will pay the remaining 25% and build to the “Fortified” criteria. This will be the first “Fortified” home built under the agreement. Florida’s Department of Community Affairs and the City of Holmes Beach are helping to facilitate this project. Precision Marine Construction of Sarasota is also a part of the effort.
“Fortified…for safer living” is a national, all-risk program, launched in Florida, where it addresses high winds, flooding, and wildfires – the state’s three most destructive natural perils. The Kennedy home will be built two feet above the base flood elevation (BFE) on concrete piles. Other “Fortified” features will include non-combustible wind-resistant roof materials, windows and doors protected by shutters or made of impact-resistant glass, and connections that securely tie the house together from roof to foundation.
“This is a win-win situation,” said Harvey Ryland, IBHS president & CEO. “It’s not likely Mr. Kennedy will have to deal with the devastation of flood again and his home is now better protected against high winds. The community also benefits by maintaining tax revenue from a homeowner on this site.”
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