FEMA buyouts have been approved in the nine towns and villages in the Schoharie County.
FEMA has approved buyouts in the towns of Middleburgh, Schoharie, Esperance, Blenheim, Fulton, Gilboa, Broome, and the villages of Schoharie and Middleburgh.
All the buyouts, aside from those in the Town of Broome, were approved on February 20. The buyouts in Broome were approved on November 24, 2012. Structures on all the properties were damaged in Hurricane Irene in August 2011.
Under the FEMA buyout program, property owners get 75 percent of the pre-flood value of the homes. Once the homes or buildings are taken down, nothing permanent can be built on the land. The property is transferred to the town or village.
It can then be used for farming, a park, parking or other use that does not require a building.
The projects in the county total $6.078 million. Under the 75 percent formula, property owners will be receiving $4.54 million.
Owners can opt out of the buyout program up until the closing.
According to the Schoharie County planning department, the following buyouts have been approved:
• Schoharie town: four parcels with three owners. All three owners are on Karkendorf Road and are in the 100-year floodplain. The properties total $341,000. The property owners will be getting $256,000.
• Esperance town: 15 parcels owned by eight people. Three owners are on Priddle Road, two are on Route 20, two are on Route 30A, and one is on Smith Camp Road. All the properties are in the floodway.
The properties were worth $909,000 and the owners will be getting $682,000.
• Blenheim: There are four parcels with three owners. All the properties are on Route 30 and are in the 100-year floodplain. They are appraised at $342,000 and the owners will get $257,000.
• Fulton: There are seven parcels owned by five people. All the properties are in the 100-year floodplain. The properties are on Redling, King, and Walhalla roads, and Route 30. The properties are appraised at $753,000 and the owners will be getting $565,000.
• Village of Schoharie: There are five properties with five owners. The properties are worth $723,000 and the owners will be getting $542,000. The properties are on Bridge and Main streets and Sunset Drive. The property on Bridge Street is in the floodway and the others are in the 100-year floodplain.
• Gilboa: There are two parcels with one owner in Gilboa. The properties, which are on Tabbi Road, were worth $216,000 and the owner will be getting $162,000. The properties are in the 100-year floodplain.
• Broome: There are two parcels with one owner. The parcels, which are on Route 145, were appraised at $210,000 and the owner will be getting $157,000. The properties are in the 100-year floodplain.
• Middleburgh town: There are 10 parcels owned by seven people. The parcels are on Clauverwie Road, Christmas Tree Lane, Route 30, and Middlefort Road. The properties were appraised at $1.8 million and the owners will be getting $1.3 million.
• Middleburgh village: There are six properties owned by six people. The properties are on Baker Avenue, Middlefort Road, and Scribner and Dexter avenues. The parcels were appraised at $772,000 and the owners will get $579,000.