Rapid City Receives FEMA Grant
Grant aids homeowners in pre-wildfire mitigation efforts
Rapid City, S.D. - Rapid City has received a FEMA Pre
Disaster Mitigation Grant for replacing combustible exterior building materials
in Rapid City’s primary Wildfire Hazard Zone. This grant is
one of many different grant programs available through Rapid City’s Survivable
Space Initiative. This initiative helps Rapid City homeowners living in
wildfire hazard areas create homes and property that are more adapted to
wildfire.
 |
| Above: Areas shaded in red are within Rapid City's primary Wildfire Hazard Zone. |
Most homes destroyed during catastrophic wildfires are
ignited by burning embers, or fire brands. Combustible exterior building
materials are vulnerable to these burning embers and significantly increase how
ignitable the home is during wildfire events. Ignition of combustible
roofs or cedar shake shingles is one of the top contributors of home destruction
during wildfires along with combustible siding and decking products.
In many cases, roofs comprised of combustible material are
older and are not easily replaced due to hail or wind damage. Many times
the cost of total replacement is a burden that the homeowner is faced with if
they are concerned about the wildfire vulnerability of their home. These
costs can be out of reach for most homeowners. As a consequence, these highly
flammable and dangerous roofs remain on many homes in wildfire prone neighborhoods.
This FEMA grant is designed to aid in the cost of replacing
these highly flammable roofs with Class A fire rated roofing products and put
the cost of replacement in reach for the homeowner. There is a match
requirement for each home, along with fuel mitigation requirements for the
property that must be performed to further reduce the homes vulnerability in a
wildfire.
The Rapid City Fire Department will be applying again soon
for more combustible exterior building material replacement grants. If
you have a cedar shake roof, siding, or wooden decking surfaces and live in the
primary wildfire hazard area, contact Lt. Tim Weaver for more information
concerning this, and other mitigation grants available for fuel reduction on
your property. Lt. Weaver can be reached at 605-394-5233 or via email at tim.weaver@rcgov.org.
-END-
