The acquisition, or buyout of a home uses FEMA funds to purchase the structure and land from a willing homeowner. The homeowner is offered a pre-disaster fair market value as determined by a certified appraiser, and the home is then demolished and the land is deeded to local government with an open space restriction. View the Property Acquisition Fact Sheet.

It’s important to understand that applying for acquisition does not guarantee approval by the State and FEMA.

Acquisition Process

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“Expedited” Acquisition Status

Properties in the floodplain that had substantial damage from Hurricane Florence. Homeowners applied in December 2018.

Applications for “Expedited” Acquisition have been approved by FEMA, and New Hanover County has been awarded funding to complete the buyout.

“Non-Expedited” Acquisition Status

Properties in or out of the floodplain that had substantial damage from Hurricane Florence. Homeowners applied in March 2019

Applications for “Non-Expedited” Acquisition have been reviewed by NC Emergency Management and approved to move to the FEMA review. Applicants are to provide the following to the Hurricane Recovery Coordination Office by Friday, October 11, at 5 p.m.

• Citizen Verification Form
• Any evidence or documentation of damage and repairs made since Hurricane Florence. This includes estimates and/or invoices from contractors, receipts, insurance claims etc.
• If outside of the flood zone – Documentation proving repetitive loss. A written summary detailing at least three flooding events is acceptable.

New Hanover County will submit additional information by November 1, 2019 for the FEMA review of these applications.

Click here to submit comment on acquisition, elevation and stormwater improvement projects.

Elevating a home is the physical raising of an existing structure to an elevation at the Base Flood Elevation or higher if required by FEMA or the local ordinance. The project pays for engineering to determine if the home is feasible to raise, then elevates and retrofits the foundation. View the Elevation Fact Sheet.

Elevation Applications Status

Properties in or out of the floodplain that had substantial damage from Hurricane Florence. Homeowners applied in March 2019

Applications for Elevation have been reviewed by NC Emergency Management and approved to move to the FEMA review. Applicants are to provide the following to the Hurricane Recovery Coordination Office by Friday, October 11, at 5 p.m.

• Citizen Verification Form
• Any evidence or documentation of damage and repairs made since Hurricane Florence. This includes estimates and/or invoices from contractors, receipts, insurance claims etc.
• If outside of the flood zone – Documentation proving repetitive loss. A written summary detailing at least three flooding events is acceptable.

New Hanover County will submit additional information by November 1, 2019 for the FEMA review of these applications.

Click here to submit comment on acquisition, elevation and stormwater improvement projects.

Application Forms

• Project Grant Application

Fact Sheets

• Homeowner Fact Sheet 
• Property Acquisition Fact Sheet
• Elevation Fact Sheet

Visit FEMA’s webpage to learn more about the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program 

Pre-Disaster Mitigation projects might include non-flood project types like wind retrofits, stand-alone generators, stormwater management, Floodplain and Stream Restoration and other projects that increase resilience and reduce long-term risk to life and property.

Flood Mitigation Assistance projects may include large-scale community based approaches that reduce the drain on the National Flood Insurance Program insured properties, with a strong emphasis on Severe Repetitive Loss and Repetitive Loss properties.

• Contact the Hurricane Florence Recovery Coordination Office at 910-798-7007.
• Complete the Project Grant Application and submit it to the Hurricane Florence Recovery Coordination Office at the Northeast Library, located at 1241 Military Cutoff Road, Wilmington, NC, 28405, or email them to HurricaneRecovery@NHCgov.com.