NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – Over a dozen New Smyrna Beach homes are set to either be demolished and rebuilt or raised off the ground to meet emergency standards. This initiative is part of FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which helps homeowners who have been flooded, some dating back to Hurricane Irma nearly eight years ago.
Initially, 15 homes were slated for demolition. However, the state jumped in with another option, resulting in 11 homes being raised off the ground. The remaining four homes are still scheduled for demolition and reconstruction.
“It’s not worth living with the fear of that happening, and what used to be a once-in-a-century event is now very frequent,” said Paul Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald owns a home on Pine Street and was one of the first to be elevated as part of the program. His home was flooded during Hurricane Irma in 2017.
The city has recently approved more homes for elevation. Some of these homes qualified after Hurricane Irma in 2017, while others were affected by Hurricanes Ian and Nicole in 2022. Funding is also beginning to roll out for victims of Hurricane Milton from last year.
“It took about five years from that conversation to actually raising the house,” Fitzgerald noted.
Several homeowners expressed frustration over the wait.
The state grant covers $150,000 of each home’s construction costs, with homeowners responsible for the remaining expenses. The city will match the homeowner’s contribution up to $35,000.
With the Elevate Florida program now providing funding for Hurricane Milton victims, it includes the Hazard Mitigation Program. Residents interested in determining their eligibility are encouraged to contact their city leaders to begin the process.