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FEMA lifts grant freeze; Calvert County approves resumption of hazard mitigation projects and asks attorney to explore surplus options for acquired properties
Summary
Calvert County emergency management staff told the Board of County Commissioners that FEMA completed its review of paused grant programs and released funding; the county has received over $1.02 million in outstanding reimbursements and will resume hazard mitigation and homeland security projects.
Calvert County emergency management staff told the Board of County Commissioners that the federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) completed its review of certain grant programs and released funding that had been paused earlier this year.
Dr. Cara Buckmaster, speaking for the Division of Emergency Management, said FEMA had completed its review and funding holds were lifted. Staff reported the county has received $1,027,524.62 in outstanding reimbursement requests and has an additional $142,623.14 in reimbursements currently processing. Remaining federal fund amounts associated with the paused grants were listed during the presentation, including hazard mitigation awards totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars and several state homeland security program awards.
Director of Public Safety Dave McDowell and Dr. Buckmaster asked the board to authorize moving forward with the previously approved projects now that FEMA had cleared the funding. Commissioners voted to permit the listed hazard mitigation and SHSP projects to proceed within their approved budgets.
Separately, the board approved a motion directing the county attorney and public‑safety staff to explore whether county‑owned properties acquired using FEMA hazard mitigation funds (in some cases properties where structures were demolished or excavated after buyouts) could be declared surplus and potentially sold or repurposed. Commissioners discussed the dual goals of removing ongoing liabilities for the county and, where feasible, returning properties to productive tax rolls. Staff noted legal and programmatic constraints can apply to FEMA‑acquired parcels and that individual property options will require case‑by‑case legal review.
Public safety staff provided a breakdown of outstanding and remaining grant dollars and confirmed reimbursements are being processed; no projects were canceled. The board’s votes effectively resumed project work that had been paused during FEMA’s review period.
