News

Federal disaster money is flowing into the Southeast Florida region. In September, FEMA announced it is awarding Florida more than $50 million for projects that will prevent, eliminate or reduce future disaster-related damage, via its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Through this program, state, local or territory governments and Tribal Nations are awarded funds to take proactive mitigation measures such as acquiring hazard-prone homes and businesses, adopting and enforcing building codes and standards, protecting against floods through elevations and drainage improvement projects, building safe rooms and upgrading utilities and infrastructure. While the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is federally funded, it is administered by the Florida Department of Emergency Management. 

In the Compact region, FEMA is awarding nearly $5 million through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority to harden drinking water pipelines for the Snake Creek transmission system in Islamorada. The proposed project will retire and replace approximately 2,200 linear feet of existing 30″ ductile iron transmission line pipe with 42″ high-density polyethylene transmission line pipe. The existing line is reaching the end of its useful life, accelerated by the corrosive saltwater environment and other environmental factors driven by climate change, including increasing sea level and water temperatures, more frequent and severe storm events and coastal erosion. The proposed project is crucial to ensure a stable and secure supply of potable water. To increase reliability, reduce system vulnerability and accommodate increasing demand for clean, safe drinking water, the new transmission line will be installed via horizontal directional drilling (HDD) below seabed of the Snake Creek channel under the Snake Creek Bridge.The Snake Creek award is part of a broader effort to protect Monroe County’s drinking water infrastructure from aggressive soils and subterranean tidal flows. 

Other notable Hazard Mitigation Grant Program projects within the Compact region include:

• More than $761,000 for Miami-Dade County to strengthen six fire stations against hurricane winds by protecting building openings and upgrading roofs to current high-wind standards. 
• More than $634,000 for the University of Miami to provide a generator for emergency backup power for the McKnight Building in Coral Gables.