ITHACA, N.Y.—Ithaca’s planned flood mitigation project will receive an initial grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the city announced Thursday.
The initial grant, worth roughly $800,000, is meant to cover design costs for projects intended to bolster flood control measures along Six Mile, Cascadilla and Fall Creeks with the use of additional flood walls and berms.
After the designs are reviewed by FEMA, the city could be eligible for $10.1 million in additional federal funding to offset construction costs. The city initially applied for the grant in 2022.
Ithaca’s flood maps, which were recently updated to reflect the increased risk of flooding in much of the city, would likely need to be revised again following the completion of the new flood mitigation project.
One of the city’s proposed plans could alleviate the flood risk in significant sections of the city’s West End, Southside and Fall Creek neighborhoods that are on current flood maps.
A statement from the city released Thursday said the flood mitigation project in its entirety is expected to be completed within three years.
In the statement, outgoing Mayor Laura Lewis said the new funding would move the city closer to completing necessary infrastructure work on flood mitigation systems.
“As your Mayor, I understand the genuine concerns residents have regarding the rising costs of flood insurance and the finalization of the flood maps,” Lewis said. “By proactively enhancing our flood mitigation measures, we not only bolster our community’s resilience but also work towards alleviating the strain on individual budgets.”
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