Alexandria Flood Mitigation Grants Set To Launch As Pilot

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The City of Alexandria is launching grants to assist property owners with flood mitigation.

The grant program, which will open applications on Aug. 15, will reimburse property owners up to 50 percent of project costs, up to $5,000, for flood mitigation measures on their property. Because the grants are part of a pilot program, eligibility is limited to private residential property owners who have documented flooding from storms dating back to July 2019. The pilot program will last at least one year, and city staff may choose to expand eligibility after that time.

The grants are one of the responses the city has made after three significant flash flooding events in just over one year: July 8, 2019, Sept. 10, 2020 and July 23, 2020. The key concern with flash flooding in the city is an overburdened stormwater system in the event of high-intensity rain in a short amount of time.

The city provides a list of flood mitigation practices eligible for the grant program. Among those practices are floodproofing windows, doorsways, basements, and utilities, modifying topography; installing flood-damage resistant insulation and building materials; and more. Residents should also review the city permit review or application requirements for the flood mitigation practices.

The new flood mitigation grant program is similar to the city's assistance program for sewer backflow prevention. The program reimburses property owners up to 50 percent of the cost, up to $2,000, for installing a backflow prevention device.

The city is encouraging property owners impacted by flooding to implement mitigation measures as it considers spot improvement projects to mitigate flooding and long-term capital infrastructure projects to address stormwater capacity. Spot improvement projects in design and stormwater capacity projects in the fiscal years 2022 to 2031 capital program are listed on the city website.

More information about the Flood Mitigation Pilot Grant Program is available on the city's website. Register for a virtual information session introducing the program on Aug. 10 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Residents can sign up for the Flood Action newsletter for more information about the city's flood mitigation efforts.

Did you get the Flood Action newsletter in your inbox today? If not, be sure to sign up at https://t.co/VtkTZxP5lH -- you can also find the newsletter and lots more information!#FloodActionALX pic.twitter.com/IFtRNxuBwN
— Alexandria T&ES (@AlexandriaVATES) July 29, 2021

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