$15.5 million FEMA grant to boost resilience at Rhode Island ports

November 25, 2024

Ryan Belmore, What's Up Newp

A $15.5 million Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program award — the largest grant the state has ever received through the program — will fund structure-elevation at the Port of Galilee and Wickford Dock, as well as replacement of a total of eight docks at three Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) marine facilities.

The grant funds, which are matched with state funds, will pay for a $17.2 million project to improve resilience to the increasing impacts of climate change, such as sea level rise and extreme storms. The other two DEM facilities that will receive new docks are the Division of Marine Fisheries’ Jerusalem facility and the Division of Law Enforcement’s Wickford Marine Base.

“Rhode Island’s ports and critical coastal infrastructure are increasingly threatened by sea level rise and storm surge,” said U.S. Senator Jack Reed. “This new federal funding will allow DEM to replace several docks at three key marine facilities to better protect our fishermen and surrounding businesses from the impacts of climate change.”

Ranked 13th in the nation and 4th on the East Coast for fishing value, according to NOAA, the grant will fund design strategies and marine construction projects to reduce hazards and improve operations at these facilities, which are vital for public safety, commercial fishing, emergency response, and marine resource monitoring.

“This record-breaking $15.5 million federal grant will help strengthen the Port of Galilee and state marine facilities’ resilience to climate change,” said Congressman Gabe Amo.

In addition to the hazard mitigation grant, Galilee has $5.2 million in improvement projects and $46 million in capital funding.

During construction, DEM staff will move vessels currently berthed at or using these docks to temporary alternate locations.