DEQ awards $11.5 million in storm damage grants

Published 5:31 pm Monday, October 26, 2020

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources is awarding $11.5 million in grants to eight communities in coastal North Carolina for projects related to Hurricane Florence damage.

The awards from the Coastal Storm Damage Mitigation Fund will fund beach nourishment, dune restoration, and other projects to remediate storm damage.

“These grants will help restore our coastal areas damaged by Hurricane Florence and serve as a reminder that we must rebuild smarter and stronger to protect our coastal economy from the climate impacts of the future,” said Secretary Michael S. Regan.

Get the latest headlines sent to you

The following project proposals were approved for funding:

– Dare County Buxton Maintenance/Storm Damage Repair: $1,557,606.74

– Town of Duck Beach Nourishment Project: $1,450,921.35

– Town of Kill Devil Hills Shore Protection Project: $1,450,921.35

– Town of Kitty Hawk Shore Protection Project: $1,408,247.19

– Town of Nags Head 10-Mile Beach Nourishment: $1,408,247.19

– Town of Southern Shores Beach Management Project: $1,408,247.19

– Town of Oak Island Re-nourishment Project Phase I & II: $1,344,235.96

– Surf City Post Florence Emergency Berm Restoration Supplemental: $1,365,573.03

– Town of Holden Beach Sand Fence Installation: $106,000

The Division of Water Resources’ Coastal Storm Damage Mitigation Fund is funded by Session Law 2019-224 which allocated $11.5 million for costs associated with beach nourishment, artificial dunes and other projects to mitigate or remediate coastal storm damage to the ocean beaches and dune systems of the state, according to General Statute 143-215.73M. The amount shall not exceed $2.5 million for each unit of local government and no cost-share will be required.

Applications were scored on six criteria, including environmental, social and economic benefits, life of the project, financial resources and project efficiency.

READ ABOUT MORE NEWS AND EVENTS HERE.

RECENT HEADLINES:

North Carolina Ferry System designated federal Marine Highway Project

Applications open for new rent and utility assistance program