Emergency Grants Can Offer Shelter from the Storm

^{This article originally appeared in the Winter 2024 Edition of Virginia Rural Water Association's Streamline magazine.}

This year's Atlantic hurricanes have certainly delivered on predictions for an above normal season, as a "perfect storm" of near-record ocean temperatures and other atmospheric conditions combined to stir up trouble for several states on the east coast.

While geography often works in our favor to lessen the impacts, the usual downgrade to tropical storms/cyclones doesn't mean we can let down our guard. The one-two punch of Debby and Helene hit southwest Virginia especially hard, causing significant flooding and property damage.

While agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security are on the front lines of the response effort, USDA Rural Development (RD) waits in the wings to assist with recovery and rebuilding. Our team can offer essential support to help homeowners, businesses and communities come back stronger and be more prepared for future events.

USDA RD

We've all seen the damaging effects of floodwaters on homes, commercial buildings and vital infrastructure. Many of our more than 70 loan, grant and technical assistance programs offer resources to repair private dwellings and get businesses and essential community facilities up and running again.

Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants (ECWAGs) can also offer a lifeline in areas where the availability of safe, reliable drinking water is threatened. Rurally located public bodies, nonprofits and federally recognized tribes can apply for this funding to repair damage sustained in a wide range of natural and manmade events to include droughts, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes. (Go to www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/water-environmental-programs/emergency-community-water-assistance-grants for more information.)

This grant program allows for water transmission line grants of up to $150,000 to be used for line extensions, repairing breaks or leaks in existing pipes and performing related maintenance to replenish the water supply. Water source grants of up to $1 million are available for the construction of new wells, reservoirs, transmission lines and other water sources up to and including treatment plants.

Applicants must show that a major decline in water quantity or quality occurred within two years of the application date or that those declines are imminent. Virginia RD obligated $538,000 for two such projects in fiscal year 2021 to support recovery efforts in communities impacted by catastrophic events.

The town of Independence used $140,500 to replace lines damaged in a 5.1 magnitude earthquake which originated in North Carolina. This project enabled the small rural community to continue providing clean water to the Grayson Manor and Penn Court apartment complexes.

Later that year, we provided a $388,000 grant to restore water service in the town of Fries after an intense thunderstorm damaged a rock barrier between the treatment plant and Eagle Bottom Creek. The situation became even more dire when subsequent storms caused additional damage to the wall, collapsing sections near the sedimentation basins and filtration building and depositing sediment and silt in the plant's intake basin.

A federal disaster declaration is not required to access ECWAG, but eligibility is restricted to rural areas and towns with populations of 10,000 or less and tribal lands in rural areas. The community to be served must also have a median household income lower than the state's median household income for non-metropolitan areas.

Natural disasters are definitely all-hands-on-deck scenarios, so we encourage partnerships with other federal, state, local, private and nonprofit entities to prevent damage and restore access to clean, reliable drinking water in eligible rural areas and towns. USDA RD collaborates with these stakeholders as well as developers, cooperatives, private organizations and a nationwide network of participating lenders to build resiliency through planning and preparedness.

USDA RD

We also work with technical assistance providers like the National Rural Water Association (NRWA) to support community planning and recovery efforts. In fact, RD has contracted with NRWA to provide circuit riders in each U.S. state and territory that can help rural water systems address day-to-day operational, financial or managerial issues. Disaster/emergency assistance is one of many areas of concern that can be addressed through the program to keep small problems from growing larger.

Southwest Virginia is in the crosshairs now, but these events can occur anywhere in the state. We accept ECWAG applications year-round through the RD Apply website at www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rd-apply or our local offices. Visit eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility to learn whether your area can qualify. (The Circuit Rider program does not require an application.)

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.