Crisfield to get help from FEMA to write flood mitigation grant requests

Posted 6/13/22

REISTERSTOWN — The Federal Emergency Management Agency will provide direct technical assistance to Crisfield as it prepares a grant application to be part of the federal Building Resilient …

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Crisfield to get help from FEMA to write flood mitigation grant requests

Posted

REISTERSTOWN — The Federal Emergency Management Agency will provide direct technical assistance to Crisfield as it prepares a grant application to be part of the federal Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program.

FEMA’s technical assistance will give Crisfield a better chance of obtaining funding for hazard mitigation projects. It will connect the city with mentors who can discuss best practices and lessons learned in similar communities to encourage community-wide resilience and the implementation of successful projects.

Crisfield sought the help to implement mitigation projects to address flooding and storm surge challenges — many outlined in a recently completed drainage study by BayLand Consultants and Design. BRIC grants can provide funding for recommended projects.

Crisfield is one of only 20 sub-applicants in the U.S. to be selected as a DTA recipient. Like many smaller communities, it lacks resources and personnel making it difficult to navigate the process required to receive funding, yet it suffers from the impact of severe storms and high tides. It was the hardest hit community in Maryland during superstorm Sandy in 2012, and last October a flood tide damaged homes and businesses again — with up to six houses in the process of being replaced.

There are inherent dangers to the city based on its topography, which are made worse by documented drainage issues due to an aging stormwater system.

“Mitigation is crucial to the future of communities near the Chesapeake Bay as they face ever-increasing threats from flooding,” said Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) Secretary Russ Strickland.

“Investing in mitigation projects saves money by reducing damages from future events. I like to say that in emergency management, mitigation is the center of the universe.”

In federal FY21 the state submitted an application for nearly $27.6 million for projects across Maryland.

The BRIC program aims to shift the federal focus away from reactive disaster spending and toward research-supported, proactive investment in community resilience. BRIC projects include those that demonstrate innovative approaches to partnerships, such as shared funding mechanisms, and/or project design.

Innovative projects typically bring multiple funding sources or in-kind resources from a range of private and public sector partners to the benefit of risk reduction.

Separate from FEMA but also partnering with the city is The Nature Conservancy which is investigating community-backed and financially feasible adaption strategies that promote the city’s social and economic health.

An advisory committee is guiding this process to identify and focus on strategies that can be tested through flood modeling. It is anticipated that by the summer of 2023 suitable recommendations will be ready for the City Council to consider for prioritization. Then the costs will be estimated so funding sources can be approached to assist with implementation.

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