House Appropriations Committee Advances Additional New Federal Funding to Protect Grays Harbor and Reduce Flood Insurance Expenses for Grays Harbor Families
Kilmer Led Effort Includes Nearly $5,000,000 to Support Aberdeen-Hoquiam Flood Protection Project - Builds on Nearly $10,000,000 Signed into Law Earlier this Year
Washington, DC – Today, the House Appropriations Committee advanced new funding that has been championed by U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) to support the Aberdeen-Hoquiam Flood Protection Project, which aims to provide coastal flood protection, improve the storm drainage systems in the cities of Aberdeen and Hoquiam, and reduce flood insurance costs for local homeowners. The $4.943 million included for the project in the Fiscal Year 2023 bill would be added to the nearly $10 million in federal funding that Rep. Kilmer secured for the project in the Fiscal Year 2022 budget. That bill was signed into law by President Biden earlier this year.
“Moving forward with the Aberdeen-Hoquiam Flood Protection Project is a big win for our region. It will mean the community can address flooding and avoid future property damage, it will enable more investment in affordable housing and economic development in the region by pulling some of these properties out of the flood plain, and it will help ensure that we won’t see so much money leave the community to pay for flood insurance payments,” said Rep. Kilmer. “Simply put, the cost of this project shouldn’t fall on the backs of taxpayers in Grays Harbor alone. The federal government ought to help. That’s why I’m pushing to secure even more federal funding for the project, and I’ll keep working to see the funding in today’s bill make it across the finish line.”
“We want to thank Representative Derek Kilmer for his steadfast commitment to protecting the citizens, property, environment, and economy of those in and around the Cities of Aberdeen and Hoquiam from catastrophic flood damage,” stated Aberdeen Mayor Pete Schave. “This funding, should it make it into the final fiscal year 2023 federal budget, will immediately go toward of one or more major elements of this comprehensive flood control protection project.”
“These dollars, along with the Community Project Funding including in last year’s fiscal year 2022 federal budget and other grant funding we are currently pursing with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will allow us to move forward with the most critical pieces of this regional flood control protection project in the next few years,” said Hoquiam Mayor Ben Winkelman. “From the beginning Rep. Derek Kilmer recognized the necessary role the federal government must play for this comprehensive project to become reality, and this is yet another major step in fulfilling that vision.”
“The Port of Grays Harbor appreciates Congressman Kilmer’s ongoing commitment and leadership on the Aberdeen-Hoquiam Flood Protection Project,” said Port of Grays Harbor Commission President Tom Quigg. “This long-term investment in the Grays Harbor community is truly a testament to the Port’s mission for betterment of the region, and we look forward to seeing the project come to fruition in the near future thanks to this critical funding.”
“This recent investment in the Aberdeen-Hoquiam Flood Protection Act marks another celebratory milestone in the effort to sustain the climate and economic resiliency of Grays Harbor County,” said Lynnette Buffington, CEO, Greater Grays Harbor, Inc. “We are deeply grateful to Representative Kilmer’s support of this project and the vision to recognize the transformational impact it will have on our residents and businesses.”
The Aberdeen-Hoquiam Flood Protection Project is comprised of two levees, the North Shore Levee and the North Shore Levee - West Segment, which are needed to protect the Cities of Aberdeen and Hoquiam against coastal flood events between the Wishkah and Hoquiam rivers north of the Chehalis River and Grays Harbor Estuary. The project also includes the construction of the Fry Creek Pump Station.
The North Shore Levee will construct a 6.2 mile levee (earthen, concrete, and sheet pile) across the two cities and provide critical flood protection. The project will build resiliency in the face of future flood events, retaining existing businesses, jobs, and residents which have been on the decline in the community. The total construction cost of the North Shore is estimated to be at least $78 million. The North Shore Levee—West Segment, estimated to cost $40 million to construct, will build a levee (earthen, concrete, and sheet pile) for 4.7 miles bordering the west side of Hoquiam. This levee aims to protect local residents and build resiliency in the face of future flood events, as well as retain existing businesses, jobs, and residents which have been on the decline in this community.
The Aberdeen-Hoquiam Flood Protection Project when completed, will eliminate National Flood Insurance Program-mandated flood insurance and building code requirements, save local residents millions of dollars, and protect an estimated 5,100 properties and 1,354 businesses.
In early 2022, President Biden signed into law a 12-bill legislative package that included $9,950,000 in federal funding, championed by Rep. Kilmer, for the project.
Rep. Kilmer led the effort to secure funding for the project through the House Appropriations Committee’s Community Project Funding process.