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Board hears update on seawalls, FEMA mitigation and county vulnerability assessment
Summary
Staff told the board the city surveyed seawalls after Hurricane Ian and has explored FEMA mitigation funds for elevating or reinforcing seawalls; the city is also awaiting Lee County's vulnerability assessment, which may affect future funding priorities.
Board members asked whether the city has a plan to raise seawall heights or use FEMA mitigation funds for seawall improvements after Hurricane Ian. Staff said a post-Ian survey examined seawalls and that FEMA mitigation is a possible funding avenue but that mitigation projects can take years to be realized.
Mahone explained the city has considered higher design elevations for some infrastructure under FEMA mitigation and that design criteria discussed in staff conversation had shifted toward more conservative elevations for mitigation purposes. He cautioned that FEMA processes and prioritization can delay implementation, saying, "As with all things FEMA, it takes some time to move."
The board also learned the city collaborated with Lee County by contributing GIS features and elevations to the county-led vulnerability assessment; staff said the city could undertake its own assessment but that it would be costly and that some grant sources may partially fund such work. Members asked staff to monitor the county vulnerability assessment and return with implications for prioritizing seawall and shoreline projects.
