Oct 4th 2024 | Posted in Mary Scott Nabers' Insights by Mary Scott Nabers

In 2023, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) responded to 100 disasters, provided approximately $12 billion to communities and states for disaster recovery and $1.3 billion to survivors of disasters. With three months remaining in 2024, 150 disasters have already been declared in the U.S., and more are anticipated.

Recently FEMA received $20.3 billion for its Disaster Relief Fund in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The total damage caused by Helene won’t be known for months, but current projections estimate the damage cost will likely reach $35 billion. Federal emergency declarations were approved for Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia and Alabama. Other states and territories – including Louisiana, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico – have also received emergency declarations. Climate change has wreaked havoc on many parts of the country.

As government leaders prepare for even more disasters, there are hundreds of disaster preparedness and sustainability projects throughout America already underway or almost ready to launch. In 2025 there will be even more preparedness projects along with all the cleanup efforts that will be underway. Disaster relief services will be in extremely high demand.

Commissioners at Harris County in Texas have announced a disaster recovery and preparedness initiative designed to mitigate flood risks in the Vince Bayou Watershed. Improving flood management in that area will support recovery from past floods and improve resilience for future natural disasters such as hurricanes.

The area is particularly vulnerable to flooding because of its flat topography and frequent exposure to extreme weather events. The project, funded through a $15 million bond, will be designed to improve stormwater detention and channel conveyance systems. Four construction alternatives are under consideration, with cost projections range from $11 million to $24 million. Construction is expected to begin in 2025.

Crisfield, Maryland, suffered major flooding during Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Photo by The National Guard

 

Officials in the coastal town of Crisfield, Maryland, are planning a major flood mitigation project to protect the area from tidal waves and storm surges. With the support of $36 million in federal funding, the project’s objective will be to safeguard the area by constructing a tidal flood protection barrier and improving the existing internal drainage system. Crisfield faces increased flooding risks due to rising sea levels and frequent extreme weather events so the components of the effort will include elevating key roads and bulkheads, installing tide gates and restoring wetlands to serve as natural stormwater storage systems. When delivered, protection will be provided for a 3.5-foot storm surge initially along with capacity to guard against 5-foot surges in the future as part of a future-proof strategy. Construction is expected to begin in 2025.

A $20.26 million reconstruction project to rebuild seawalls and revetments to protect a coastal roadway between North Hampton and Rye, New Hampshire, will be launched. The area currently suffers from rising sea levels and the increasing frequency of coastal storms. The effort will be designed to ensure that the critical artery remains open during extreme weather events. Approximately 3.2 miles of vulnerable roadway will be worked to strengthen the region’s overall climate resilience and reduce the need for post-storm clean-up efforts.

The project is currently in the design and permitting phase, and construction contracts are likely to be awarded in 2025.

A $20.19 million floodplain restoration project in Mississippi will use natural infrastructure to restore 1,516 acres of wetlands and riparian forests. The objective will be to protect Interstate 40, Interstate 55, two freight rail lines and a pedestrian and bicycle bridge that converge in the floodplain of the Mississippi River. The project will also address long-term climate resilience. With frequent Mississippi River flooding, the elevated routes face increasing risks from floodwaters over 10 feet. Embankments and bridge footings are vulnerable to shear stress, wave action and scour. The result will reduce flooding, improve ecosystem health and prevent erosion. Construction is expected to begin in 2025 and be complete by 2028.

A $23 million bridge resilience project that will address rising sea levels and frequent flooding is planned for Townsend, Delaware. It will replace the 60-year-old Taylors Bridge over Blackbird Creek and raise the surrounding roadway to accommodate a 3-foot rise in sea levels. The bridge is affected by frequent storms, with increased flooding and storm surges causing erosion and damage to the approach roads. When the work is completed, the bridge will have more height, which will reduce the effects of sea level rise and climate change.

The project will include reducing the number of bridge piers from nine to three to improve water flow, expanding road shoulders, widening sidewalks and installing retaining walls to protect surrounding wetlands. The new 440-foot bridge will have a four-span precast concrete superstructure, supported by reinforced concrete piers and abutments, ensuring resilience against future storm impacts and sea-level rise. The project will also ensure travel access and protect a scenic segment of the Delaware Bayshore Byway.

A bridge in Val Verde, California, will be upgraded to avoid structural damage in case of an earthquake. The existing bridge does not meet seismic safety standards, and it could collapse in the event of a significant earthquake. The community has experienced recent earthquakes, making the project a time-sensitive necessity.

The $7.5 million project will reinforce the bridge by installing catcher blocks, concrete infill walls and small-diameter piles under an existing footing to reinforce the foundation. The project is currently in the planning stage and construction is slated for 2025.

FEMA’s disaster relief fund provides most of its funding to cities and states, but individual survivors are also compensated. Cleanup efforts, along with preparedness projects for future disasters, have already created a massive amount of work that must be done quickly. Companies with these types of service offerings will continue to be in extremely high demand in America.

As President and CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc., Mary Scott Nabers has decades of experience working in the public-private sector. A well-recognized expert in the P3 and government contracting fields, she is often asked to share her industry insights with top publications and through professional speaking engagements.