Mica wins funding for seawall project

Congressman John L. Mica announced to Historic City News today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has given final approval to $4.7 million for the St. Augustine Seawall project.

“After a number of required reviews because of the historical nature of the project, it was my hope that the seawall reconstruction would be underway well before St. Augustine’s 450th Celebration, and it looks like this will indeed be the case,” said Congressman Mica. “This project will make a significant impact in protecting our historic waterfront and will finalize an important initiative for the community.”

The FEMA grant will help with the building a new seawall along the historic district waterfront, which will provide storm surge and flood protection to the existing historic seawall, properties listed on the National Register of Historical Places and other homes and businesses.

“This federal and community initiative will better protect historic features of the City of St. Augustine against future storms,” Mica told Historic City News.

“The goals are to protect lives, prevent property damage and save money for all in the long run,” said Regional Administrator Phil May. “In the future, there likely will be less damage, due to storm surge and associated flooding, to our historic treasures in the nation’s oldest city.”

The $4,743,750 FEMA grant will be provided to the City of St. Augustine through the Florida Division of Emergency Management under the non-disaster Flood Mitigation Assistance Program. The program helps states and communities implement measures that reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to buildings, manufactured homes and other structures insurable under the National Flood Insurance Program.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer