FEMA Gives Fla. County $10.9M Federal Grant to Help Restore Pensacola Beach

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Federal Coordinating Officer for the Florida recovery, William Carwile, announced that Escambia County, Fla. is receiving a $10.9 million federal grant to help restore an eight-mile stretch of Pensacola Beach that was severely damaged during Hurricane Ivan.

“This is one of Florida’s premiere sugar sand beaches, and this project will go far to restore the beach to its former splendor. Restoring this part of Pensacola Beach is another example of how FEMA continues to aid Floridians as they clean up and build back from last years hurricanes,” Carwile said.

The total cost of the restoration project is more than $12 million. The total federal share paid by FEMA is almost $11 million; state and local governments share the balance of the project cost. FEMA is funding this project because the beach is improved property that had been regularly maintained prior to last falls hurricanes.

The heavy rains and strong storm surge of Ivan significantly damaged the entire shorefront of Pensacola Beach last fall, causing the loss of about three million cubic yards of sand as well as grass plantings and sand fencing. The almost $11 million FEMA grant will go toward restoring these losses.