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Washington, D.C. – Congressman Pete Visclosky today announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has made available the $500,000 for flood control efforts in Lake Station and Hobart he secured in the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2009. The funding will be used to address flooding problems in Lake Station and Hobart that occur when heavy rains cause water levels in Lake George to spill over into Deep River and Burns Ditch.
“Flooding is a serious problem across Northwest Indiana and these funds will help minimize the danger in an area that has suffered repeated flooding,” said Visclosky. “Flooding is both a public safety issue and an economic issue, and this project will help protect the health, homes, businesses, and vitality of residents in Lake Station and Hobart. I commend the two cities on working together to address this critical issue and hope the project moves forward quickly.”
The funds Visclosky secured were awarded through FEMA’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation program for hazard mitigation planning and the implementation of mitigation projects prior to disaster events. The program’s objective is to reduce the overall risk posed by disasters to people and property, while also reducing reliance on funding from disaster declarations.
Repeated floods from Lake George have caused considerable personal and financial hardship to the residents of Lake Station and Hobart. The two cities are working together to develop a flood control plan that mitigates the threat of floods by removing debris from Deep River and its watershed, stabilizing the river banks, upgrading water management structures, and investigating other preventive measures. The efforts are intended to lessen the overall risk posed to residents and structures by flooding and reduce reliance on funding from disaster declarations.
“As a child growing up, I remember the same area flooding, so this has been going on for forty plus years,” said Keith Soderquist, Mayor of Lake Station. “The dramatic recent floods shed more light on this issue and the money couldn’t have come soon enough. By working with Congressman Visclosky to acquire these monies, we are setting Lake Station on the right path. We are putting together a comprehensive plan to address flood issues in Lake Station. ”
“This project is another example of Congressman Visclosky showing his commitment to the communities of Hobart and Lake Station and the citizens of those communities,” said Brian Snedecor, Mayor of Hobart. “In regards to the funding for this project, it is of the utmost importance to both communities to be able to properly protect our citizens and their property from the floods that have plagued us in the past.” |
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