By Gary Pitts
McCracken County, KY – McCracken County will take part in a Federal Emergency Management Agency buy-out program for flood damaged property. The program provides funds to buy homes from residents who live in a flood plain and experienced significant flood damage. Paul Carter is the Director of McCracken County Emergency Management.
"The concept behind that is it would reduce damages in future floods by buying them out and not allowing structures to be built back into the flood plain."
He says there are a number of possibilities for future use of the land.
"It could be agricultural. If its where that a farm is nearby, we could maybe lease this to the farmer. It could be recreational. Anything that doesn't have a permanent structure built on it would probably apply. But it would remain the property of McCracken County. "
Seventy five percent of the buy-out funds are provided by FEMA. The state and county cover the rest. The McCracken Fiscal Court agreed this week? to contribute up to $100,000 dollars. Around twenty McCracken County homeowners are eligible for the program, but would need to enter it on a voluntary basis.