OSO — The federal government is giving a $1.5 million grant to Snohomish County to buy out properties destroyed in the Oso slide.

“The plan is to use the grant money to help people directly affected by the mudslide and flooding,” rather than public projects, said Rebecca Hover, a county spokeswoman.

The county wants to use the money as matching funds for a federal property buyout program.

“The buyouts are our No. 1 priority,” Hover said.

The money comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program.