Hampton Flood Mitigation Home Elevation Assistance

How it works

The City of Hampton’s Office of Emergency Management helps homeowners in the floodplain elevate their homes using federal grant money. Homeowners cannot apply directly to FEMA. Instead, the City of Hampton submits an application to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), which compiles applications from across Virginia, confirms project eligibility, and selects projects to send to FEMA.

What the money covers

This program is for home elevation to reduce flood damage. The page does not provide a more detailed construction scope beyond elevating homes at risk for flood damage.

Amounts and matching

The page says most grant programs require homeowner matching funds of 5% to 25% of total project cost, depending on the specific grant. Using FEMA’s average home elevation cost of $205,000 as an example, the homeowner share for match alone could be $10,250 to $51,250. The page also says homeowners must pay 100% of costs related to pre-existing damage such as wood rot, termite damage, or settling; some code-upgrade items such as shut-off valves and GFCI outlets; and most or all relocation costs while the home is under construction. The page notes that one grant program does not require matching funds, but it does not identify which program that is.

How to apply

The process is voluntary and starts when the City intends to submit an application. The city mails letters to flood-prone areas inviting homeowners to respond. It then uses FEMA’s Benefit to Cost Analysis (BCA) tool to determine whether properties are eligible. From eligible homes, the city considers several factors, including BCA score, proximity to flood sources, repetitive-loss or severe repetitive-loss status, fit with existing city plans and priorities, and whether homes can be grouped in the same area.

Timing and deadlines

The city can pursue two kinds of grants: disaster funding available only after a presidentially declared disaster in Virginia, and annual grant funding that is usually available in the fall. If city resources are committed to projects already awarded or pending award, applications may not be submitted every year. The page says the overall process can take years: up to a year to develop a large application, another year to learn whether FEMA awards funding, then 9–12 months for funding acceptance, bid work, and contracting. After construction starts, project completion typically takes 1–3 years overall, with individual properties taking 3–5 months each.

Local contact

Questions can be sent to [email protected] or by phone at 757-727-1208.