Supplemental
The FY19 Disaster Supplemental has been signed into law. Click here for the bill.
An important distinction in the language is whether or not the funds in each section pertain to natural disasters, or the named storm events.
The $19.2 billion dollar bill provides a total of $3.3 billion to the Corps of Engineers on top of the $17 billion from the last post-disaster supplemental, most of which has yet to be spent:
$35 million of which will go directly toward “high priority studies” for projects in states and territories impacted by Hurricanes Florence and Michael, Typhoon Mangkhut, Super Typhoon Yutu and Tropical Storm Gita. The Assistant Secretary is required to provide monthly reports to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations about how the money is spent.
$740 million for construction*. One-time projects (those not eligible for ongoing construction) require a 65/35 cost share with non-Federal O&M requirements. Only for named storms.
$25 million for Continuing Authorities Programs*. Since this part was included in the ‘Construction’ section, we are fairly sure these funds can only be used for named storms since the construction section also refers to named storms.
*Non-Federal cash contributions under these headings are to be financed interest-free for 30 years according to Section 103(k) of PL-99-662.
$908 million for O&M for ‘natural disasters’ - In other words, these funds can be used for any O&M need related to a natural disaster, not just the 5 storms named here in the bill.
$1 BILLIION for FCCE (Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies). This can be for any natural disaster, and (here’s the biggie): “Funding utilized for authorized shore protection projects shall restore such project to the full project profile at federal expense.” A full project profile includes the design template PLUS ‘sacrificial sand.’ That means if your community is eligible for one of these projects, your beach will be as good as new.
Energy & Water
The House Energy & Water bill is expected to be on the House floor next week as part of a minibus coupled with Defense, Labor-Health and Human Services-Education, State-Foreign Operations, and Legislative Branch.
Flood Insurance
The National Flood Insurance Program has been extended to June 14th with two new bills, HR 3146, to make administrative reforms and HR 3111, to make monthly installment premium for coverage. No text yet for those bills.
What does Corps HQ Planning do?
Be sure to check out our most recent episode of the WaterLog Podcast where we sit down with Derek Brockbank, Executive Director of the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association and Corps HQ Planning – Eric Bush, Acting Chief of Planning and Joe Redican, Deputy Chief of Planning, to discuss what it is that Corps HQ planning does and much more detail than we’ll get into here.
It’s Hurricane Season. You can monitor the seas through NOAA’s National Hurricane Center. www.nhc.noaa.gov
