The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency announced five communities will receive $2.8 million Flood Hazard Mitigation funding to help them reduce the loss of life and property damage in the event of future flooding.

The communities include:

· Blair County, Altoona City - $1,311,750;

· Butler County, Harmony Borough - $166,500;

· Dauphin County, Lower Swatara Twp. - $130,710;

· Lackawanna County, Old Forge Borough - $952,690; and

· Wyoming County, Tunkhannock Twp. - $288,900.

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is funded at a 75 percent federal share and a 25 percent non-federal share.

Nearly 1,000 properties have been mitigated at a cost of $100 million so families could move out of harm's way. Priority for hazard mitigation entails acquisition and relocation of structures from hazard-prone areas; retrofitting, such as flood proofing or seismic retrofits to protect structures from future damage; and structural hazard control, such as debris basins or floodwalls.

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is a federal grant program administered by PEMA and made available after each federal disaster declaration.

For more information regarding the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program webpage.

11/4/2005