FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 7, 2018 | State Awards $317,020 to Barnstable County to Identify, Map and Manage Coastal Flooding
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 7, 2018
Media Contact: Shannon Jarbeau | Phone: 508-375-6952 | Email: shannon.jarbeau@capecod.gov
State Awards $317,020 to Barnstable County to Identify, Map and Manage Coastal Flooding
BARNSTABLE COUNTY, MA – Cape Cod Cooperative Extension, in collaboration with Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment, the Cape Cod Commission, and Center for Coastal Studies, received a $317,020 grant from the Seaport Economic Council to map storm tide pathways.
The funds will be used to bolster the protection of coastal businesses, homes, property and infrastructure by precisely identifying and mapping “storm tide pathways,” the path of least resistance that flood waters take to move into a community. These maps differ from existing flood maps because they show how water moves through a community, whereas existing flood maps show total possible extent of flooding but not how the floodwaters get from point A to point B. Mapping these pathways will help Cape communities improve future infrastructure investments, evacuation routes, first responder access, and planning. Where there are major pressure points, such as in Provincetown, dunes or temporary flood barriers can be installed in advance of a storm to protect large areas from flooding.
Mike Maguire, director of the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension says, “We are pleased to be able to provide the information necessary to further protect communities from flooding and improve flood resiliency on Cape Cod.”
More than $3.8 million in funding has been awarded by the Seaport Economic Council to the Cape Cod region and several local communities to support coastal resilience.
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