Thirteen coastal towns and counties have been awarded $22 million by the state Division of Water Resources to help in their recovery from Hurricane Florence.
“Coastal communities are still in the rebuilding and recovery phase more than a year after Hurricane Florence left its devastating impact,” said Michael Regan, secretary of the state Department of Environmental Quality in an announcement Tuesday that referenced the 2018 storm. “These funds will help rebuild coastal communities, and strengthen North Carolina’s economy at a time when we need it most.”
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Funding for the projects came from the General Assembly 2018 Session. State Division of Water Resources staff reviewed the coastal storm damage mitigation projects based on environmental benefits and mitigation measures, social benefits, economic benefits, expected useful life of the project, financial resources and project efficiency.
The division awarded Carteret County and Oak Island for projects that will mitigate coastal storm damage to beaches and dune systems grants. Carteret County received $15,342,623 for Atlantic Beach, Pine Knoll Shores, Indian Beach, Salter Path and Emerald Isle beaches and Oak Island received $3,157,376.
Topsail Island storm mitigation grants have been provided to North Topsail Beach in the amount of $1.6 million and Surf City received $1.6 million for hurricane recovery projects.
The division awarded grants to the following to conduct surveys of beaches and channels for Hurricane Florence-related damage and to assess disposal areas for dredged material:
- Bald Head Island received $54,907
- Oak Island received $63,549
- Kill Devil Hills received $12,047
- Holden Beach received $21,264
- Dare County received $1,400
- Bogue Banks received $126,800
- North Topsail Beach received $71,838.32
