Senators Request More Federal Aid for Delaware’s Storm Recovery
Carper and Kaufman cite “significant damage” caused by November’s nor’easter
March 25, 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Delaware’s Senators are urging the federal government this week for more financial assistance following November’s major nor’easter that ravaged Delaware’s 25 miles of beaches and caused significant erosion problems.
In a March 19 letter, Sens. Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman (both D-Del.) wrote to the Senate Committee on Appropriations to ask for funds to help restore Delaware’s beaches as well as take preventive measures against future storms.
The letter was written in conjunction with nine other Senators from Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, and Louisiana. Hurricane Ida caused $250 million in damage to coastlines in 10 states, not including private property. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), it is estimated that it will cost more than $26 million to repair Delaware’s coast.
The letter points out that for every $1 spent on beach nourishment, the federal government collects $320 in tax revenue.
“Reinforced beaches also will generate cost-savings for taxpayers since the funding that would be required to repair damage to a non-reinforced area, should a Hurricane Katrina-type storm hit, would greatly outweigh the funding needed to complete and maintain these Federal projects,” the letter states.
“We believe the damage that now presents great threat to life, property and infrastructure necessitates emergency action.”
This is one more step in the delegation’s efforts to bring emergency relief to Delaware. On March 22, Carper, Kaufman and Congressman Mike Castle (R-Del.) wrote to Craig Fugate, Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Congressional delegation outlined its support for Governor Jack Markell’s request that Delaware be declared a disaster area during February’s two blizzards, which buried the state under several feet of snow. According to the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), it cost at least $8 million to clean up this winter’s back-to-back snowstorms.
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