SCHUMER ANNOUNCES: FEMA HAS HEEDED CALL & APPROVED MORE THAN $12.8 MILLION IN FED FUNDS NEEDED FOR PHASE 2 OF THE CRITICAL TROY SEAWALL STABILIZATION PROJECT; SECOND MAJOR INSTALLMENT OF FUNDS WILL ALLOW CITY OF TROY TO PROTECT WATERFRONT COMMUNITY AND ALLOW THE AREA TO FLOURISH

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced more than $12.8 in federal funding for the City of Troy. Specifically, the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) will award a second, critical installment of funding for the reconstruction of Troy’s Seawall, which was which was severely damaged by flooding from Tropical Storm Irene. FEMA will cover 100 percent of the cost, at $12,871,850. Schumer initially secured $6.7 million in federal funding in July 2014 so this stabilization project could begin and this damaged seawall would not threaten to undermine the City of Troy’s waterfront revitalization efforts any further.

“Restoring the Troy Seawall will not only protect the Hudson River waterfront by preventing future flood damage, but also bring scores of economic benefits to the residents and businesses that have come to rely on the waterfront’s incredible development. I was proud to deliver the initial $6.7 million that helped this stabilization project get underway – and am pleased FEMA has once again heeded our call and allocated this second installment of $12.7 million. These federal funds will allow Troy to build back the seawall stronger than ever before,” said Schumer

Schumer explained that this grant would fund the upgrade of the bulkhead wall to protect and mitigate the wall from potential breaches, maintain the structural integrity, and protect adjacent structures. Specifically, this upgrade will include the placement of structural steel soldier piles drilled and grouted into rock sockets along the entire length of the existing sea wall (approx. 7,000 ft.). Schumer said this phase I of this project is making significant progress at the seawall and, therefore, phase II needed to be prioritized by FEMA as soon as possible so the stabilization and reconstruction could be completed as soon as possible.

In 2014, Schumer secured more than $6.7 million for phase I of this project, which kicked off the seawall’s reconstruction and stabilization. Schumer argued this federal investment was a linchpin in the seawall’s redevelopment, as the City of Troy had approximately $50 million lined up in public and private investment in construction projects along the waterfront, but needed this additional funding to make the project a reality. Schumer said a pipe carrying raw sewage runs within 15 to 25 feet of the seawall and, if the seawall were to be compromised, the sewage line could easily be punctured, potentially causing an environmental disaster in the Hudson River and damaging development prospects.

Troy’s seawall was initially constructed in 1922 and underwent repairs in 1978, over 30 years ago. Climate change, increased ice flows, erosion and other naturally occurring events have severely compromised the integrity of the seawall, which protects sewer systems and stabilizes nearby buildings. If the wall had suffered further damage before repairs, the result could have been catastrophic in financial and environmental terms (i.e. if the sewer system were to fail).