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Barnes County, North Dakota ~ BACKGROUND An abnormal wet cycle since 1993 had flooded homes yearly along the Sheyenne River north and south of Valley City, ND. The houses were built prior to issuance of Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM), and all but one were 1970's or early 1980's housing. The only other flooding the structures sustained was in 1979. PROJECTS A relocation of the house at the lowest elevation, and a seven-home buyout represented the hazard mitigation project. Barnes County Commissioners could not put any money into the project, though they agreed to act as governmental sponsor so the emergency manager could accomplish the project. The land owners paid for the local share since they were getting the greatest benefits. At the time of these projects, substantial damage had not been experienced by the 8 homes. However, these projects were determined to be repetitive loss structures. BENEFITS The homeowners are now safe and out of the flood way; relocated out of the flood plain; and no longer experiencing yearly flooding, septic tank back ups, catastrophic private dike failures; and dangerous travel through rapidly moving flood water getting to and from their houses to keep pumps going behind sandbags or "toughing it out" living in the upper floor without power or toilet facilities while battling the water to minimize damage. Barnes County taxpayers did not have to pay for the land owners' purchasing mistakes. The land owners either were bought out for 86 percent of the appraised value or had a home relocated that they could not sell because of repetitive flooding. All but one home owner staved in the county. , , Banks did not experience losses from bankruptcies or home owners walking away from their mortgages. Where possible, Barnes County offered the upper floor of these houses for sale rather than demolition. This dramatically reduced lot salvage costs. The county collected $50,000 on sales for relocation of structures out of the floodplain. This reduced demolition and lot restoration to $12,000 for six properties of the buyout. The seventh has not been purchased. The $50,000 was deposited into the project account. At account close-out, tl1e remainder of ftmds will be turned back to the state and FEMA. The NRCS purchased two lots that it is retuming to natural vegetation as a educational plot. Barnes County is leasing out other proporties for pasture or for hay land to partially make up for the tax losses. The Deparment of Interior has purchased another for a recreational area adjacent to the fish hatchery In addition, when personnel from the National Flood Insunmce Program came to photograph repetitive loss structures, three of the four properties targeted had been turned to empty lots. One of the home owners had at least three $30,000 claims, and would haves had two more floods had the home remained on the lot. The fourth land owner who has experienced repetitive losses has never requested a buyout or other aid. PROJECT COST $650,000 FUNDING SOURCES Landowners, State, FEMA-HMGP.