$1.6 Million FEMA Grant Will Pump Up Seabrook Island Wastewater Plant 

Release Date: August 20, 2007
Release Number: R4-07-147

ATLANTA, Ga. -- Some things don’t work well under water … or at all. When it’s a wastewater facility inundated by storm surge, things could get messy.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved a total of $1,605,606 for the State of South Carolina for upgrades to help Seabrook Island storm-proof its wastewater treatment plant from a 500-year coastal storm surge. The grant was awarded through FEMA’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program. The $1.6 million grant represents a federal share of the total project cost of $2,140,808 million. The remainder will come from non-federal sources.

“The upgrades will prevent wastewater overflow and back-up into area homes, businesses, marshes and wetlands, not only preserving the quality of life, but also protecting the ecosystem,” said FEMA Region IV Administrator Phil May.

Hurricane season coincides with the area’s peak tourist season, exposing the plant to possible storm surge just when it is working at its highest volume. The facility processes more than 1.2 million gallons of wastewater daily. The project modifications, designed to prevent interruption of operations, include converting 12 non-submersible wastewater pumps to submersible pumps, the flood-proofing of 24 existing electrical panels, and the flood-proofing of other components in the wastewater treatment plant.

FEMA’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) grant program provides funds for hazard mitigation planning and projects to state, local and tribal governments. Mitigation reduces overall risks to people and the built environment, and reduces reliance on funding from disaster declarations. PDM grants are awarded on a competitive basis and without state allocations, quotas, or other formula-based allocation of funds.

FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 21-Aug-2007 09:35:49