Flooded residents outside Vicksburg might have buyouts available as an option, too, as Warren County supervisors plan to approve participation in the federal program.

Local governments must agree to pay 25 percent funding matches to FEMA money paid to any property owner who sells and abandons a home. The federal disaster mitigation program pays market value for a house the day before a flood, plus a relocation stipend. City officials have already agreed to pursue buyouts in the wake of this year’s flooding. Supervisors will likely vote on that question Monday.

Chief among issues mentioned for both local governments will be obtaining clear title to the properties that may be eligible. A firm number was not known.

There have been at least three rounds of buyouts in past years, including in Hamilton Heights along Hatcher Bayou and in residential areas west of North Washington Street. To make the first move, landowners must provide a copy of a recorded warranty deed showing title is vested to them, a copy of last year’s Warren County tax receipt and a Warren County vehicle tag number.

That’s a problem for many owners because there are many combinations of ownership obtained through inheritance or otherwise and deeds were never “cleaned up.” If after 30 days of a legal review by the county board attorney a deed still is not clear, the owner’s application is held until the next round of similar applications.

Also, additions are planned to the county’s periodic public notice regarding development permits to reflect construction in federally designated flood plains.

If a residential or commercial property was damaged by recent floods, a permit is required from the building permits department, located in emergency management offices, to start making improvements valued at $500 or more.

Flood maps for Warren County are in the “compliance” step with a map modernization effort between FEMA and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, along with six other counties. Some areas affected by recent river flooding, such as Chickasaw Bayou, were marked for redelineation as part of the study. When the map is made effective has not been announced.

Warren County hazard mitigation efforts figure to turn to seeking grant money to either upgrade or replace tornado warning sirens.

Some of the county’s 15 warning sirens — large bullhorn-like structures protected by basket-shaped screening — work well while others do not, Warren County Emergency Management Director Gwen Coleman said.

Despite the age of some sirens, Coleman assured they performed well during the April 4 storms and were functional. Some are vulnerable to losses in radio signals, which, like cell phone reception, can vary depending on the terrain, Coleman said.

Applications for federal grants to fund items like law enforcement, firefighting and other security equipment are made to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the umbrella agency for a multitude of emergency response and enforcement agencies, including FEMA and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

While most grants figure to total in the millions and encompass more than one county department at a time, Coleman said the sirens figure into what her agency will seek when money comes available.

Though more coordination with MEMA is needed, Coleman estimates Homeland Security grants available to individual counties will total $1.5 million.