Bar Harbor Secures FEMA Reimbursement for Town Pier and Hadley Point Beach Ramp Engineering for 2024 Storm Repairs
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BAR HARBOR—The Town of Bar Harbor announced, July 7, that it had received almost $273,000 to help with recovery of its town pier and Hadley Point Beach ramp, which had been impacted by two storms in January 2024.
“This is the successful culmination of the storm repair work and the reimbursement for local taxpayers by the federal government,” said Town Manager James Smith.
According to the town, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, recently notified it of the receipt of the award.
“Town staff has been working collaboratively with FEMA as well as Maine Emergency Management to identify scope of work necessary to repair the town’s assets,” the news flash reads. “The town has been awarded $272,922.99 and anticipates receiving these funds by the end of July, 2025. This funding will pay for environmental, geophysical, and structural engineering efforts as well as the repaving of the Town Pier. Additionally, the funding covers engineering and design for the Hadley Point Beach Ramp.”
Town Treasurer and Finance Director Sarah Gilbert said she worked with Public Works Director Bethany Leavitt and Fire Chief Matt Bartlett on securing this reimbursement.
“A lot of work, but well worth it!” Gilbert said on Tuesday.
The Hadley Point Boat ramp work has not been completed at this point. The FEMA funding will be paying for the engineering and architectural work toward that repair.
Because of December storms, then President Biden had declared Maine a major disaster on January 30, 2024. The Stafford Act gives the president that authority. The disaster was declared because of the flooding and severity of the storms that occurred. FEMA-4754-DR-ME then authorized the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program statewide.
Then in March 2024, President Biden declared Cumberland, Hancock, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Waldo, Washington, and York Counties a Public Assistance Disaster Declaration for the impact of wind and flooding in the storms that occurred January 9-13, 2024.
According to Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), “This declaration provides eligible funding for emergency work and the repair or replacement of eligible public infrastructure disaster-damaged facilities.”
Other Mount Desert Island towns have been working with both MEMA and FEMA to repair infrastructure that was damaged during those storms.
The storms in December 2023, January 2024, and March 2024 infiltrated basements, destroyed the Bar Harbor Shore Path, Seawall Road, comfort stations, piers, as well as countless paths, trees, and areas in Acadia National Park. Many towns and businesses are still rebuilding the infrastructure impacted.
Clarification: We updated the story to doubly clarify that the Hadley Point Beach Ramp funds is for architectural and engineering work and to specifically state that the project is not complete.
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