Johnston secures federal funds for all 9 home buyouts on Belfield Drive with persistent flooding

Town of Johnston Secures Federal Funding for Home Buyouts to Address Persistent
Flooding Issues on Belfield Drive

The Town of Johnston and Mayor Joseph M. Polisena, Jr. announced that the Town
has successfully secured federal funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS), a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to address persistent flooding issues
on Belfield Drive, an area so much in the news this season for persistent flooding that left people cut off from the rest of the community, necessitating special permission to cut an access road directly on to Route 295, a federal highway, for safety purposes.

The funds will be used to purchase several homes on Belfield Drive, where residents have long been affected by flooding, leading to severe public safety risks and relentless accessibility issues. The approved funding, totaling $5,171,587.03, will be allocated towards acquisition and restoration efforts, including demolition. The NRCS will contribute 75% of this amount, equating to $3,878,690.25, which will be allocated to the Town of Johnston as part of the agreement. The Town will be responsible for the remaining 25%, amounting to $1,292,896.75, assuming every property owner agrees to sell.

There will be a $40 million flood mitigation bond on the ballot in the upcoming November election, which if passed by the voters, will allow a portion of those proceeds to cover the Town’s share of the buyout.

“Seeing Belfield Drive submerged under water was surreal – it resembled a lake instead of solid
ground,” Mayor Joseph Polisena, Jr. said. “Our plan is clear: demolish homes, build detention
ponds, and reroute water to prevent such incidents. The mandatory evacuations in January
proved how serious this is, with water levels reaching 40 inches, and even our military Humvee
vehicles struggled to get through without leaving our first responders stranded in the water. For
these safety reasons, we had to mandate evacuations. These buyouts are an essential, one-time
opportunity for residents. The use of eminent domain to take these properties is not ideal, and we
encourage residents to take this buyout opportunity. The Town cannot spend more than half a
million dollars for one neighborhood, while we have other major flooding problems in the town
that have to be addressed as well.”

Mayor Polisena, Jr. extended his appreciation to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and NRCS for their support in addressing the critical issue of flooding in our community. These efforts mark a significant step forward in ensuring the safety and well-being of residents on Belfield Drive and safeguarding the integrity of the town’s infrastructure.

The following addresses are eligible to participate in this one-time federal buyback program: 51
Belfield Drive, 62 Belfield Drive, 63 Belfield Drive, 77 Belfield Drive, 78 Belfield Drive, 82
Belfield Drive, 87 Belfield Drive, 96 Belfield Drive, and 98 Belfield Drive.

Residents affected can expect to receive comprehensive information from the Town regarding the next steps and procedures involved in the buyout process within the coming weeks.