County outlines FEMA buyout for at-risk Roosevelt homes; bank-protection work planned on Campaign Creek

Supervisor Humphrey and county staff told attendees the county has begun work on a FEMA buyout grant that will purchase at-risk homes in the Roosevelt area and must be completed within one year. "We attended the kickoff meeting with FEMA for the buy-out grant," Humphrey said, and staff are working with affected homeowners to proceed with purchases.

Alex Kendrick expanded on the buyout agreement, saying a title company will be chosen by the board of supervisors by the end of August. "Part of the grant agreement was that the land must be returned to its natural state and that no development can take place on it," Kendrick said. He added the county will use the FEMA-allocated funds to design and build bank protection on the north side of Campaign Creek.

Supervisor Humphrey clarified the program’s purpose: "this is not a relocation program, it is a buy-out," and said that once homes in harm’s way have been demolished the Mesquite road will be reopened. County staff described a plan to allow Campaign Creek to erode remaining south-side bank protection and then to pursue engineered protection on the north bank after buyouts are completed.

The county faces a tight timetable: the FEMA grant requires completion of acquisition and related actions within about one year, so staff said they are moving quickly to complete purchases, select a title company and begin bank-protection design. The county did not provide an exact timeline for demolition of homes or the anticipated date for re-opening Mesquite beyond the statement that the road will be reopened after demolition of homes determined to be in harm’s way.

Next steps: county staff will select a title company by the end of August and proceed with homeowner outreach and property acquisition under the FEMA grant terms. The meeting did not record a formal vote or a timeline for demolition beyond those statements from staff.