FEMA extends funding to demolish homes just before a Tuesday-night deadline

City Hall's worrying paid off.

A late-afternoon decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency has continued FEMA funding for the demolitions of the worst-damaged of the city's flood-damaged homes through Nov. 27.

FEMA funding had been slated to run out Tuesday night, which would have stopped the city's home demolition program in the short term.

“That was way too close,” Greg Eyerly, the city's flood-recovery director said late Tuesday afternoon.

The city has 198 more homes to demolish that have been deemed an “imminent threat” to the public's health and safety. About 500 already are down. The threat status has allowed the city to sit back and have the Federal Emergency Management Agency foot the bill.

The extension granted on Tuesday will let the program continue.

The city has two demolition contractors now in place to take down homes and has made an offer to a third firm to provide some help.

Eyerly noted that the city will have access to another pot of federal funds – Community Development Block Grant funds – to pay for demolitions. But houses first must be bought out using CDBG funds before a demolition can proceed, and many buyouts have yet to occur.

Eyerly said weather delays and historical reviews of properties have slowed the demolition process.

In total, the city had planned to demolish about 700 homes using FEMA funds and another 400 or so using CDBG funds.

A city program also is giving away some homes slated for buyouts and demolition if builders and housing programs are willing to renovate and sell them. To date, the city reports about 100 homes may be saved from demolition by the new program.