Flood money secured

Published 12:00 am Thursday, February 6, 2003

The wait is over.

Thanks to assistance from Congressman Gil Gutknecht and the persistence of local governmental officials, the Federal Emergency Management Agency released $2.6 million in flood monies Wednesday to the city of Austin.

"The residents of Austin have waited long enough," Gutknecht said. "This announcement brings us closer to a solution to the regular flood events Austin has experienced. I am happy for Austin and proud of the teamwork that brought us to this point."

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Under the mitigation program, areas cleared of structures will be incorporated in its park system.

After significant flooding in 1993, Austin continued its mitigation activities by acquiring 78 homes and one church with $2.9 million in FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program dollars.

Austin Mayor Bonnie Rietz singled out Gutknecht, City Engineer Jon Erichson and officials with Austin's Housing and Redevelopment Authority for helping secure the federal assistance.

"They have gone through step after step to get things done. We have thought many times that we were all set, and then something else came up," she said.

"It's something we've been expecting," Erichson said. "FEMA is very thorough to ensure the dollars are meeting all the criteria. We anticipate the process (to purchase the homes) will start in earnest."

Rietz said the $2 million from the state and $1 million in local funds, coupled with the federal monies, will help solve some of the recurring problems that have been caused by having three rivers flow into town.

Rietz said this will be accomplished by purchasing the homes, razing them and turning the area into greenspace and a park area. Gutknecht, R-Minn., said the city will continue to clear floodplain areas in the Cedar River and Dobbins and Turtle Creek areas.

"(The funds are) going to make a big difference to homes -- homes that flood time after time," Rietz said. "It will be like a park where people can enjoy the nice weather. If it floods, it floods into the grass, but it will not flood into the homes again. It doesn't take care of everything, but it takes care of a good part of it.

"We can really go full force, now that the money is coming. It will start right now."

Dan Fields can be reached at 434-2230 or by e-mail at dan.fields@austindailyherald.com