More than a third of the homes in Fort Wayne's most flood-prone neighborhood are in line for federal funding to buy and demolish them. The impact: Clearing the space around the Junk Ditch where these homes now stand will reduce property damage, risk to people and flood-fighting costs in future floods.

Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry on Wednesday accepted an oversize ceremonial check for almost $1.5 million from representatives of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. The money will enable the city to buy 40 homes in an area bounded by Taylor Street, Freeman Street, Ardmore Avenue and Covington Road.

Bob Kennedy, Fort Wayne's director of public works, said the purchases and demolition of the homes will begin within months. For now, open lots left behind after demolition will remain as green space, but will not be developed as a park. There are about 150 homes in that area, but owners of only about 70 of them have asked to be included in buyouts, Kennedy said.

Manuela Johnson, who directs the mitigation program for the state department of homeland security, said she expects another federal grant for about $700,000 will be approved in the next two to three months. Kennedy said that would cover the cost of buying out another dozen houses.

Federal funding to buy and demolish these flood-prone houses comes from a $35 million grant appropriated for Indiana after severe flooding last year, Johnson said.

Kennedy said that fighting floods in the Junk Ditch area has been difficult because the area is so flat and floodwaters inundate it so uniformly. Henry said homeowners who have declined the city's offer to buy their property will still be provided with material support, such as sandbags, in the event of flooding.

Rod Renkenberger, executive director of the Maumee River Basin Commission, gave the mayor a check for $55,000 as part of the funding for buyouts.