SOUTHPORT, NC - The impact of Hurricane Floyd (1999) on the City of Southport, while not devastating, created enough storm water drainage to again tax the systems in place. The City Council and City Manager are working together to obtain funding for a new storm water management system. Their plan includes contracting with a design engineering firm for a new storm water management and drainage system. Currently, the firm is in the design process. "We (the community) funded this project through the Powell Bill because we didn't want to wait for FEMA money," stated Rob Gandy, City Manager.
The Powell Bill (State Street-Aid Allocation Law, Chapter 136-41.1 through 136-41.3) is part of the General Statutes of North Carolina. Purposes for which Powell Bill funds can be used include improvements or new construction of local municipal Powell Bill streets as defined in the statute. The City of Southport is using the eligibility requirement I., A., 4, “Construction of Necessary Storm Drainage for Protection of Streets.”
The project is currently in the design phase. The completed project will be a new storm water management system. When completed, the new system will manage storm water runoff resulting from another hurricane event. The improved drainage will keep streets and homes from flooding, eliminate health and safety hazards, avoid the costs of repetitive damage repair and create a more sustainable community.
Standard Homeowner's insurance policies do not cover flood damage. The National Flood Insurance Program makes Federally backed flood insurance available to homeowners, renters, and business owners in participating communities.