Washington, D.C. -  U.S. Rep. David Price (D-NC) today announced a $5 million grant for the state of North Carolina to study sea level rise and develop methods to recognize and prevent some of the harmful effects caused by it.  Expected sea level rise could make hurricanes more damaging, expose more families to flooding, and degrade fisheries and agriculture in coastal areas.  The grant is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 

Price secured the grant through the fiscal year 2009 Homeland Security Appropriations bill.  As Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, he authored the House version of the annual funding bill. 

“With the threat of global climate change, coastal states like North Carolina face increased risk of natural disasters and sea level rise,” said Price.  “Our state is leading efforts to meet this challenge and can serve as a model for other states in addressing this important national priority.  This grant represents a worthwhile investment that in the future will save North Carolina and the nation both money and lives.” 

“We’re pleased that the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety could take the lead in analyzing the risks posed by the rising sea level,” said state Emergency Management Director Doug Hoell. “Not only will these study results be precedent setting for our state, but this has national implications for future growth in our states and others along the coast.”

The notification released by FEMA is copied below. 

Later this week, FEMA is expected to announce an additional grant to North Carolina that Price secured to support the state’s efforts to identify hazards throughout the state and to mitigate the impacts of potential disasters.  The $5 million project was included in the fiscal year 2008 funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security.  Specifically, the grant will focus on hazard identification, risk assessment, and risk communication and improved integration of these activities into mitigation planning. 

FEMA GRANTS $5 MILLION FOR SEA LEVEL RISE STUDY IN NORTH CAROLINA

ATLANTA – The state of North Carolina will receive $5 million for a statewide risk assessment and mitigation strategy demonstration of the potential impacts of climate change-induced sea level rise.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will use the results of this study to assess the long-term fiscal implications of climate change as it affects the frequency and effects of natural disasters. Information from the study will be shared with other states to inform their climate change mitigation efforts.

According to FEMA Regional Administrator Phil May, the information and results from this study may help formulate strategies to deal with potential effects of sea level rise on the nation’s coast. “North Carolina has been very proactive in implementing and improving upon coastal zone management activities and policies,” May said. “Although the study is focused on just the state of North Carolina, the results of the study should be applicable to other coastal states as well. In addition, the study will compliment an existing study currently being performed by FEMA which focuses on the effect of climate change on the National Flood Insurance Program.”

FEMA’s Mitigation Directorate administers the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP is an insurance, mapping, and land use program that provides the availability of federally backed flood insurance to home and business owners located in communities that participate in the NFIP. 

North Carolina’s Office of Geospatial and Technology Management (GTM), part of the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management, will be managing the study.  GTM oversees the state’s floodplain mapping and management programs. The study will last approximately three years.