By RHETT WHITE

Columbia town manager

(Editor’s note: Below is a proposal that White submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Nov. 14 to obtain funding for flood prevention measures.)

Introduction:

At two meetings following Hurricane Matthew the need for a FEMA funded mitigation project to address repetitive and damaging flooding at the intersection of North Road Street and the North Boundary Canal, in the Town of Columbia, NC, was discussed. This funding proposal is a follow-up to those discussions with FEMA officials and serves as a formal request for FEMA Mitigation funds.

Description of problem: 

Persistent and repetitive flooding is occurring during hurricanes, tropical storms, and seasonally heavy rain storms at and near the intersection of North Road Street (S.R.1209) and the North Boundary Canal in the Town of Columbia, NC. Wind driven tides that fill and overflow the Scuppernong River also present a flooding problem at this juncture of street and drainage canal. Flooding was especially significant during Hurricane Irene in August of 2011 and again during Hurricane Matthew in October, 2016. There were three damaging flooding events between the weekend of September 3, 2016, and the week of October 9, 2016.

Flooding affects more than a dozen homes and four businesses located in the immediate neighborhood and additional homes and institutions further south on North Road Street. Flood damage regularly includes sub-floor and foundation damage as well as damage to HVAC systems. Several structures have incurred inside floor and wall damage.

Equally important is the disruption to commerce and public services caused by flooding in this area. North Road Street is the major north-south thoroughfare connecting the northern River Neck, Sound Side and Alligator communities to the commerce and governmental centers located in Columbia. The Tyrrell Volunteer Fire Department, Columbia Waste Water Treatment Plant, Tyrrell Prison Work Farm, vast acreages of farm land, recreational areas and residential subdivisions are located north of the area that is so prone to flooding. The Tyrrell County Schools and Emergency Medical Services are located south of the canal.

Recent storms have resulted in more than two-feet of storm water across North Road Street, requiring that the roadway surface be elevated to protect public and private vehicles while providing uninterrupted north-south access. Recent storms have also demonstrated the necessity to dredge the North Boundary Canal to its traditional 22-feet width and 8-feet depth. The canal was last dredged in 1965 and is currently less than 2-feet in depth at several locations, resulting in sluggish drainage and prolonged flooding of approximately one-third of the town’s land area.

Mitigation solutions: 

1. North Road Street — The Town of Columbia, Tyrrell County and NC Department of Transportation jointly funded an engineering study to address the North Road Street flooding issues. The resulting plans by Rivers & Associates Engineers include installation of a larger box culvert under the street and elevating the street as much as 18-inches at the canal location. New curb and gutter, storm water drains and pipes, relocation of electric utility poles, relocation of underground water, sewer and gas utility lines and related steet work results in a project estimated to cost more than $750,000. At present the combined resources of the town, county and State dedicated to this project are approximately $250.000. No contingency funds are available.

To complete this mitigation project $500,000 is requested.

2. North Boundary Canal — The Albemade Resource Conservation & Development Council (ARC&D) has contracted with the town to develop plans, secure NC Coastal Area Management (CAMA) permits and help secure grant funds to dredge the canal to its traditional width and depth. This work will extend from the Scuppernong River east to a point 200-yards east of North Road Street, a distance of approximately three-fourths mile.

To complete this mitigation project, $175,000 is need for dredging, $9,000 to complete design and permitting, and $3,500 for project supervision. Total requested is $187,500.

Summary

Columbia is a town of 841 residents with limited resources. Tyrrell County is North Carolina’s least populated county and is classified as a Tier 1 County. Projects of this magnitude are not possible using local funds. FEMA mitigation funds will address two critical flooding problems in the town that negatively impact significant site and local infrastructure and services.