ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 27, 2002) - Governor Parris N. Glendening today announced Board of Public Works approval of a $126,531 grant for Cecil County to continue its Farr Creek Flood Mitigation Project.

"We are taking aggressive, proactive steps to protect Marylanders from the hazards of recurrent flooding," said Governor Glendening. "The grant approved today will assist Cecil County in removing 11 properties from the floodplain of Big Elk Creek, sparing residents from the dangers arising from any future flooding in the area."

Problems near Big Elk Creek began in September 1999, when heavy rainfall from Hurricane Floyd left 11 properties severely damaged.

Though the Board of Public Works approved an initial $108,403 grant Nov. 14, 2001, conservative cost estimates left county officials in need of $168,708 for the acquisition and demolition of two of the properties. And additional funding from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) was unavailable to make up the difference.

Once the project is complete, the property near Big Elk Creek will be converted to open space and maintained by Cecil County.
The total cost of the project is $867,000, of which $650,419 was provided by a FEMA grant and $108,403 is the local share. The project began Dec. 1, 2001 and is expected to be complete by August.

State funding for the work comes from the Maryland Department of the Environment's Flood Hazard Mitigation Program.

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