Over the weekend, Governor Roy Cooper joined federal FEMA leaders in Gastonia to announce the release of $3.1 billion in funds to build climate resilience projects across the nation.
The press conference was held along Gastonia’s Duharts Creek, where $5.9 million will be allocated for stream restoration and infrastructure protection to help prevent the future flooding of Gastonia.
Increasingly frequent and severe rain events have caused the creek to flood and experience significant erosion along its banks. The new FEMA project will use natural solutions to stabilize and rehabilitate the bank along approximately 8,000 feet of Duharts Creek.
“We thank FEMA and the State of North Carolina for funding this very important project in our City. This funding will help us reach one of our long standing strategic goals,” said Gastonia Mayor Walker E. Reid in a press release. “It is our intention to ensure that our residents and businesses in this area are not at risk for future flooding or impacted by other vulnerabilities that may exist. We also want to protect our environment for the future of our great city and for generations to come.”
NOW: @NC_Governor joins @FEMA_Deanne to announce that FEMA has $3 billion available in federal funding for resiliency projects nationwide. They also toured Duharts Creek in Gastonia which received a BRIC grant to make the area more resilient against flooding. #ncpol pic.twitter.com/vHF6hjYI5k
— Sam Chan (@sam_chan17) August 12, 2022
Today, Gov. Cooper joined @FEMA_Deanne and other officials in Gaston County to announce $3.1 billion in resiliency funding through FEMA grants. Duharts Creek will receive a grant to help reduce flood risk and improve public safety, making the community more resilient. pic.twitter.com/ss42cXyLQh
— Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) August 12, 2022
In total, North Carolina has been approved for the funding of 10 projects across the state – more than any other state in the nation.
The upcoming projects include:
- Gastonia – Stream restoration and infrastructure protection along Duharts Creek – $5.9 million
- Siler City – Blood Run Pump Station Relocation and Sewer Line Replacement – $5 million
- Sawmills – South Caldwell Sewer Pump Station Elevation Project – $189,000
- Greenville – St. Andrews Drive Infrastructure Protection and Stream Restoration – $3.45 million
- Pollocksville – Building Elevations to Restore the Town’s Commercial Corridor – $1.08 million
- Fair Bluff – Fair Bluff Park Phase 2 – $2.44 million
- Hillsborough – Resilient Regional Water Supply Project- $1.01 million
- Salisbury – Water Supply Resiliency Project for Pump Station Along Yadkin River -$22.5 million
- Fayetteville – Wayland Drive Drainage Improvements – $2.61 million
- Hillsborough – River Pumping Station Relocation from Floodway – $5.81 million