Most of the depopulation expected along South County rivers, for now.
By Farah Vallecillo
Original Air Date: April 11, 2025
Host: Sarasota County just launched a program that buys out repeatedly flooded homeowners. Its funding—at barely $6.5 million—is moderate, and it will probably be depleted after the first 20 or so buyouts. But in a county and a state that do not officially use the words “climate change,” this may come as a bit of a surprise to some. WSLR News intern Farah Vallecillo had a closer look at the county’s first Voluntary Home Buyout Program.
Farah Vallecillo: The Voluntary Home Buyout Program is part of Sarasota County’s Housing Recovery Program. Moderate- to low-income homeowners who were affected by Hurricane Ian in 2022 and who have gone through repeated flood damage can now sell their homes at market value to the county.
The main reason behind the buyout program is “mitigation,” according to the county website—in other words, relief for homeowners who cannot afford the expense of reconstruction and who are ready to relocate. But it’s also to prevent future expenses for everybody else—“helping to reduce future disaster risks while promoting resilience,” in the official wording.
Tammy Owens is a project manager for Resilient SRQ, the county program that manages more than $200 million in federal disaster recovery funding.
Tammy Owens
Tammy Owens: We want to be able to help those folks that are in repetitive loss areas so that they don’t have to continue year after year to be affected by the flooding. The Voluntary Buyout Program is a great opportunity for people of the community to have the chance to sell their home at fair market value. The program is available to anyone in the county, and they can apply through their public municipalities.
FV: Homeowners have until April 30 to apply for a buyout. Most of the applicants thus far have been from North Port and South Sarasota County, the local areas that suffered the biggest impacts during Ian.
TO: The funds that we’re working with for the voluntary buyout are specifically targeted to Hurricane Ian. They are designated disaster areas. Myakkahatchee Creek and Hidden River, or the areas that we’re purchasing, have to have been in a repetitive loss. They have to be low to moderate income. This round of funding will not be anything that we can use for the 2024 storms.
Flooded home near Hidden River after Hurricane Ian.
FV: The program does not yet cover homeowners flooded during last year’s storms. Properties purchased after September 2022—when Hurricane Ian struck—that meet the criteria may be eligible for future programs with funding that is not yet totally active.
Applicants must first go through a review and scoring by Resilient SRQ staff. The final decision is up to the Sarasota County Commission.
Homes on properties that are approved by the voluntary buyout program will be demolished, and the land cannot be redeveloped. The land will be repurposed for the public benefit. Owens tells us what happens to the properties after a buyout is approved.
TO: Once the applicant has gone through the public entity and it’s been scored by Resilient SRQ staff, what we’re able to do is buy the home at fair market value. That home that’s been purchased—that land—needs to remain green space. It can be used for flood water, as far as storm management; retention pond; it can be greenspace, community gardens or trails—that type of thing. But a home can never be built there again.
FV: Applications for this program are now being accepted until April 30. For more information, or to apply, visit Resilient SRQ’s website at www.resilientsrq.net/buyout.
From WSLR, this has been Farah Vallecillo.
WSLR News aims to keep the local community informed with our 1/2 hour local news show, quarterly newspaper and social media feeds. The local news broadcast airs on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6pm.