USA: Corps Begins Post-Sandy Comprehensive Study

As directed by Congress with the passage of the Disaster Relief Appropriation Act of 2013, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers scientists and engineers launched a collaborative study May 28 to determine how best to reduce flood and storm damage risks for people and communities along the North Atlantic coast.

According to the Act, the study was authorized up to $20 million to “… address the flood risks of vulnerable coastal populations in the areas that were affected by Hurricane Sandy within the boundaries of the North Atlantic Division of the [U.S. Army] Corps [of Engineers].”

The Act requires completion of the study by January 2015.

While compiling the study, officially known as the North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study, scientists and engineers will consider future sea-level rise scenarios and integrate economic, climatological, engineering, environmental and societal data from Virginia to Maine to develop a comprehensive framework to reduce coastal flood risk and promote resiliency, said Mr. Joseph Vietri, Director, National Planning Center of Expertise for Coastal Storm Risk Management, who is leading the effort for the Corps.

According to Vietri, the study will be collaborative, comprehensive and integrated, and conducted in partnership with federal, tribal, state and local government representatives as well as non-government organizations, academia, technical experts and interested parties.

[mappress]

Press Release, May 30, 2013