The recently-passed Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 included quite a few projects for the Charleston District. These projects are being funded for disaster recovery and are part of the more than $17 billion that was provided for long- and short-term disaster recovery projects across the country.
Headlining the funding the District received was money for storm damage reduction projects up and down the South Carolina coast. Folly Beach, Myrtle Beach, Edisto Beach and Pawleys Island all received funding to place much-needed sand on the beaches that was lost from hurricanes in the last few years. Folly Beach and the beaches along the Grand Strand are already in the process of receiving sand. For Edisto Beach and Pawleys Island, this will be the first construction funding they have ever received.
“Several years ago, Pawleys and Edisto were authorized as federal projects, but construction funding had not been appropriated until now,” said Brian Williams, chief of programs and project management. “As soon as we learned of this funding, we began working with the towns to come up with the best possible plan to construct those authorized projects and start realizing the benefits from reducing damages from future storms.”
The District also received supplemental funding for two new feasibility studies to look into local issues with federal implications. The Folly Beach feasibility study will examine alternative measures to continue to deliver the coastal storm risk management benefits. The Charleston Peninsula study will evaluate possible actions intended to provide long-term risk reduction from flooding on the City of Charleston’s peninsula. Both of these studies are proposed to be completed within three years and cost no more than $3 million from the time they commence.
“We’re very excited about receiving supplemental funding made available after the recent hurricane damage,” said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, district commander. “We already have some of these projects underway and are eager to start the projects and studies that we’ve never done before that will greatly benefit the entire state of South Carolina.
The District also received maintenance funding for the Charleston Harbor south jetty and the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. All of the projects that received supplemental funding will meet the intent of Congress to be used for rehabilitation, repair, and construction to address consequences of recent hurricanes in the state of South Carolina. The District looks forward to completing them as quickly as possible.