Published July 8, 2026

The City of Dearborn has been awarded more than $8.1 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to aid in reducing the risk of repetitive flooding and to modernize the city’s sewer system. 

This award is the second phase of an $8.4 million total grant through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

The funding for this project is a critical step in addressing neighborhood flooding, specifically in east Dearborn between Chase Rd and Greenfield Ave.

Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud stated, "We are grateful for this FEMA grant, which will allow us to take appropriate actions to protect our neighborhoods. These funds will help us conduct major flood projects in a particularly hard hit area, thereby boosting our overall stormwater capacity across the city." 

Dearborn has experienced significant flooding events in 2014, 2018, and 2021. The 2021 flooding, a result of a 1,000-year rainfall event, caused extensive property damage and affected approximately two-thirds of Dearborn homes. This project is intended to mitigate flood damage by improving the city’s ability to manage stormwater during severe weather events.

The grant will support significant upgrades, including:

• Installing approximately 6,200 feet of new storm sewers.
• Adding grade protection and new flap gate structures to manage high-flow scenarios.

These improvements are designed to handle heavy rainfall and prevent basement backups, protecting residents’ property and the community.

This initiative is a collaborative effort between federal and local leadership, with FEMA providing 90% of the project costs, while the City of Dearborn covers the remaining 10%. FEMA is also providing over $149,000 to assist in managing the second phase of this grant.

Through such grants and programs, Dearborn continues to create solutions to prevent damage from severe weather.
 

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