Home Elevation Program

The Scituate Home Elevation Grant Program is administered by the Coastal Management and Flood Hazard Mitigation Department with Technical Assistance from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.  It's purpose is to reduce risk of flood damage to National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) insured structures in the Special Flood Hazard Area by raising existing houses above the Base Flood Elevation. Grants may be available when Congress appropriates funds to FEMA’s (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Flood Mitigation Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs.  The program is usually funded annually, but there are years when no funding is appropriated. The timing and availability of future grant rounds is determined when new funding is approved.  Federal regulations require that applications be made through the Town of Scituate to MEMA (Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency). Homeowners may not apply directly to FEMA for Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) funding, but local governments can sponsor applications on their behalf.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

FMA funding, when available, is competitive and the administration of the grant is complex and time consuming.  To be eligible for consideration, the following requirements (in addition to any state and federal requirements) must be met:

The home must be located in the Special Flood Hazard Area

The home must be insured under the National Flood Insurance Program

The cost to elevate the home must be less than or equal to $219,555 or a Benefit Cost Analysis is required

The home must be capable of being elevated safely 

The home shall be elevated in accordance with local building codes

Applicants must obtain detailed cost estimates from at least three contractors 

The grant program cannot be used to pay for new construction.

If you are interested in applying to this grant program please download the Town application (see below).

For more information please download the Scituate Home Elevation Grant Guidance and/or any questions please contact the Coastal Management Officer at cmiles@scituatema.gov.

For more information on FEMA's Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program visit: https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/floods