Grant Update!

First a little grant history. Back in July of 08, I was contacted by John Jackman, Directer of Emergency Management for the Town of Mansfield.

I must tell you about Mr Jackman. On Friday July 11 2008 I came home to find a note on my door and a message on my answering machine. The note and message from Mr Jackman was to inform me I might be eligible for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) , Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) Pilot Program grant. That Friday night was a really sad night here because we had just told Jordan that her beloved kitten Charlie had died at the Vets. ( Jeanne told her, I could not do it) Jordan and I took a walk to pick a spot to bury Charlie when John Jackman pulled up eager to speak with me about the SRL Program. As he started to talk he looked down at Jordan a couple of times and noticed the tears. He asked if everything was alright and I explained her kitten had passed away. He told me what we were doing was much more important and he left us to continue our walk. He is a good man.

Well I attended the meeting the very next Monday evening at town hall and met with Mr Jackman, Doug Glowacki - Specialist with the Ct Dept of Emergency Management & Homeland Security and Sam Bell from Fema. These 3 men explained the program to me starting with the offer to buy me out, tear down my house and turn the property into open space. This was not a option for me so they explained the Elevation program. This is a 90/10 grant I have to raise 10% of the grant. This project will raise my house up above the 500 year flood line, approx 8'.

Well I signed up for this and all 3 gentleman have been great. Mr Jackman walked me from dept to dept at Town Hall and I spoke with Inland Wetlands, Zoning, and the Building Dept, all have been extremely nice and helpful. Sam Bell did all the paper work for the grant, and I heard this was a complex mountain he navigated, and Doug Glowacki has been the person I email with all my questions. He is extremely knowledgeable about the Oct 15 flood. He wrote a very informative report. you can view it at, http://ct.water.usgs.gov/data/octflood/DEP%20REPORT%20October%20Flooding%20of%202005.doc . Doug has been great and has made me feel comfortable asking the questions.

I recieved a update from Doug Glowwacki today. He said:

"Almost done. The grant award documents should be going out to the town within the next 5 days. Once the town signs and our Commissioner signs, you will be given the green light to begin the work".

We hope to start in the spring and the next time the property floods, Jeanne and I can sit on the back porch, smoke some cigars and watch the water go by.