If you live in certain areas of Mastic Beach, the state is offering to buy your house so you can move out of the floodplain.

New York State mailed out 144 letters to the homeowners in the eligible neighborhood. The letters tell them they are eligible for this buyout program, and they can apply to sell their house to the state.

It’s part of the Blue Buffers Voluntary Buyout Program, an initiative that helps residents move to safer locations while returning land to natural buffer zones and wetlands. They hope that will help reduce future flooding.

Many residents have lived there for years and say they don’t want to move even if they have to deal with occasional flooding. If they’re interested they have to apply by April 30.