Lake County to receive FEMA money

Lake County will receive about $1.5 million from a federal agency to remove structures from flood-prone areas. The cash will come from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The money will go toward acquisition and demolition of nine residential structures in the floodplain. Following demolition, the properties will be maintained as permanent open space in the community. "The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program enables communities to implement critical mitigation measures to reduce the risk of loss of life and property," said FEMA acting administrator Janet Odeshoo. "The acquisition and demolition of these structures permanently removes them from the floodplain and greatly reduces the financial impact on individuals and the community when future flooding occurs in this area."