By Paul Alleva, The Chronicle, 8/11/2001
The Centralia Community Development Department is inviting city residents who want to elevate their homes in 2002 to apply for federal grant money between now and Aug. 17.
The city must receive all completed applications by Aug. 17.
Application packets are available by calling the community development department at 330-7662, or by stopping by its office on the second floor of Centralia City Hall. The application requires property owners to provide information about the home's elevation and flood history.
''All people have to do is call or stop by,'' said Centralia Grants Administrator Marilyn Riebe. ''We'll even help them fill out the applications.''
Seventy-five percent of the money comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 12.5 percent comes from the Emergency Management Division of Washington's Department of the Military, and the homeowner is expected to come up with the remaining 12.5 percent, Riebe said.
''Homeowners can receive up to $35,000 in grant money,'' she said, ''but we have to verify that they are able to pay the 12.5 percent. And the city says anything beyond $35,000 is the homeowner's responsibility.''
She said what Centralia residents are applying for is actually the ''third cycle'' of the elevated-homes grant program, designed to help residents who want to protect their homes from flood damage. The first cycle started April 1, 1996; the city received the second grant in 1998, she said.
''It really has been a popular program,'' Riebe said. ''To date we've elevated 125 homes. We have another 39 on the list for Grant 2.''
She said the city uses the grant money not only to elevate homes but to make other necessary improvements as well.
''We will use grant funds to extend stairs up to your front door, and to install railings,'' she said.
The city will also pay for a 4-by-4 deck to be built around the front door in accordance with the Uniform Building Code, she said.
''We give every applicant a guidebook,'' Riebe said. ''We also train contractors to do the elevation work.''
Centralia's home-elevating program is considered an excellent example among employees of Washington's emergency management division, Riebe said.
''We are the national model for elevating homes in flood-plain areas,'' she said.
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Paul Alleva covers municipal government and public issues for The Chronicle. He may be reached by e-mail at palleva@chronline.com or by calling 807-8239.