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A Daily News Service of the North Carolina Coastal Federation

DEQ Awards $11M in Storm Damage Grants

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A view of Southern Shores beachfront from Kitty Hawk Pier. The town has been awarded $1,408,247 for a beach management project. Photo: Jennifer Allen

Several coastal communities have been awarded a total of $11.5 million in grants for projects related to Hurricane Florence damage.

The state Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources, or DWR, announced the recipients Thursday for the awards through Coastal Storm Damage Mitigation Fund for beach nourishment, dune restoration and other projects to remediate storm damage projects.

“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 DEQ Secretary Michael S. Regan in a statement.

The following project proposals were approved for funding:

  • Dare County Buxton Maintenance and Storm Damage Repair: $1,557,607
  • Duck Beach Nourishment Project: $1,450,921
  • Kill Devil Hills Shore Protection Project: $1,450,921
  • Kitty Hawk Shore Protection Project: $1,408,247
  • Nags Head 10-Mile Beach Nourishment: $1,408,247
  • Southern Shores Beach Management Project: $1,408,247
  • Oak Island Re-nourishment Project Phase I and II: $1,344,236
  • Surf City Post Florence Emergency Berm Restoration Supplemental: $1,365,573
  • 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 the $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 benefits, social benefits, economic benefits, life of the project, financial resources and project efficiency. To learn more visit the call for applications announcement and fund guidelines.

About Staff Report

The story was compiled by staff members of Coastal Review.

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