JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Neighbors living in flood-prone homes along the Ribault River could get some relief through a city buyback program for properties that get flooded out on Ken Knight Drive.
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The program uses grant money from FEMA to help move homeowners to a safe area on high ground that does not flood. The way this program works is the city would buy the property from the homeowner and demolish the structure to return it to open space.
Once a property is acquired, the city deed restricts the land as open space and nothing can be built there again.
As the owner of several properties in the area of Ken Knight Drive, Darrell Griffin knows all too well how bad flooding can get.
“Especially on the riverbank, it gets pretty rough,” said Griffin.
Griffin said sometimes it doesn’t even take much rain for water to impact homes.
“Sometimes on the riverbank itself, the water rises and it comes across the street, so the folks along the river bank, the water is really high,” said Griffin.
The program is 100% voluntary, which helps long-time neighbors who Griffin said want to stay right where they are.
“They can afford living over here,” said Griffin. “And if you relocate them, it’s going to be very hard to relocate a person with the incomes that are out here.”
So far, 3 homes were purchased with this program.
Click HERE to learn more about the program.
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