Watershed study recommends FEMA buyouts for repeatedly flooded Fox Hollow; county, city pursue grants

City and county officials told Greenwood City Council that a watershed study supported by the 2016 Capital Project sales tax recommends pursuing property buyouts under a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant for Fox Hollow townhomes after repeated flooding.

Josh Skinner presented the watershed-study update and told council the study — funded at $1,747,000 under the capital-projects sales-tax program — modeled four watersheds and identified 21 problem areas, split into tiered priorities. The consultant (Wolpert Engineering) took a deeper look at seven sites, including the Fox Hollow/Halterwanger area, and recommended buyouts for the Fox Hollow townhome units as the preferred long-term solution.

"They found that the best solution for that area was to buy out the properties using a program through FEMA, where you can get grant money to buy out homeowners that are in the flood plain or in the floodways, provided that once you buy them, you demolish them and remove them forever," Skinner said.

Skinner and staff said the county submitted a mitigation application that requests approximately $3,200,000 to cover acquisition, closing costs, asbestos abatement, project management, demolition and the required local match. Under the Hazard Mitigation Grant program described in the meeting, FEMA would provide 75% of the grant award; the remaining 25% is a local match. The application listed an estimated local-match amount of roughly $820,000; council and staff discussed sources for that match at the meeting and noted that the county had said homeowners would be involved in funding the local match — an item staff said needed clarification.

Staff reported that all 19 property owners in the Fox Hollow townhome complex have signed letters indicating willingness to participate in the grant application, which staff called a major step forward. The application was filed with the state emergency management office (SCEMD) and, if advanced to FEMA, could receive a decision in 12–18 months or, staff said, possibly up to 24 months.

Skinner outlined near-term steps: the county and city will continue internal outreach with residents; follow federal application timelines (SCEMD reviews before FEMA); and pursue potential state or local funding sources for the non-FEMA match if needed. Council members asked whether DOT and other agencies could assist with clearing clogged culverts and ditches in the near term — a separate short-term mitigation step staff said was already underway but that the city and DOT would continue to coordinate.

Why it matters: Fox Hollow flooded multiple times (2015; hurricane-related event; recent weekly flooding cited by staff), and residents remain dislocated or at ongoing risk. A buyout and conversion to permanent open space is a longstanding mitigation option that eliminates repeat losses but requires grant funding, demolition, and a local match. The city and county jointly pursuing the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant positions the neighborhood for a federal-funded mitigation solution but leaves a local funding question to resolve.

Details from the study and grant application - Study funding source: 2016 Capital Project Sales Tax (project budget cited: $1,747,000). Consultant: Wolpert Engineering; watershed analysis included Currituck/Cr - transcript excerpted. - Fox Hollow action recommended: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant buyouts, demolition and conversion to permanent open space. - Application amount referenced: $3,200,000 (covers acquisition and related costs); FEMA share: 75%; local match: 25% (approx. $820,000). - Timing: SCEMD reviews before FEMA submission (state scheduled an Oct. 1 submission window); staff estimate FEMA decision window of 12–18 months, possibly 24 months. - Participation: Staff reported all 19 property owners signed to participate in the application; the last signatures arrived the week of the meeting.

Staff cautioned that a FEMA grant requires a perpetual open-space maintenance obligation after acquisition and that a local match must be identified if FEMA funds are awarded.

Speakers and next steps - Presenter: Josh Skinner (watershed study update); other city staff and county representatives participated in Q&A. Council asked staff to continue outreach to Fox Hollow residents and to coordinate with DOT and state agencies on near-term ditch/culvert clearance while federal grant processes move forward.

Sources: Greenwood City Council meeting transcript; watershed study summary presented to council.