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De Soto, MO

A Small City with a Big Flood Problem

De Soto, MO is a small city with a big flood problem. De Soto has of approximately 6,359 people, with 65% of the city designated as low-income , 23% are 62 years or older, and 23% who are currently living with a disability. In this small town, everyone is affected when disaster hits. De Soto is roughly split in half by a railway running parallel to Joachim Creek, which is the major source of flash flooding in the town. The entire neighborhood between the rail track and the Joachim creek is located in a FEMA-designated floodway. Chronic flash flooding, including major events in 2015, 2016, and 2017, has directly and indirectly harmed or killed multiple residents, especially the elderly, and has devastated housing stock in affected neighborhoods. While many residents are concerned about their flood risk, De Soto faces an affordable housing shortage which makes relocating extremely difficult for affected residents since property values are lower in the floodway than in other areas of the city. Many residents have either sold their homes or abandoned them, resulting in blight, loss of community, and deteriorated and vacant housing throughout the neighborhood. Homes are often sold without full disclosure that they are in the floodway, resulting in a vicious cycle of renters and new homeowners in harm’s way.

Buy-In’s Services in De Soto

Despite interest in buyouts, limited capacity at the local level has made it difficult to secure federal funding. Buy-In has been working with a local community organization, the Citizens Committee for Flood Relief (CCFR) and the City of De Soto, to determine interest in buyouts and apply for federal dollars for planning and implementation.

Buyout Interest Survey

Buy-In has developed and has a rolling survey with CCFR to understand how many people living in De Soto are interested in buyouts and what they need in order to relocate. The surveys are conducted online, over the phone, in person, and by mail to ensure every household can be reached.

Resilient De Soto: CDBG-MIT Planning Grant

Buy-In helped the City of De Soto secure a $100k CDBG-MIT Planning grant to undertake a comprehensive flood mitigation and adaptation plan to help residents relocate within the community and convert the floodplain into a community recreational amenity. The Resilient De Soto planning process is ongoing through May 2023.

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Implementation

Buy-In worked with the City of De Soto to apply for funding for buyout through the FEMA HMGP program. Funding was awarded in 2023 and four buyouts were implemented in 2024.

Partners

• Citizens Committee for Flood Relief

• Anthropocene Alliance

• City of De Soto, MO

• H3 Studios