Today, U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) called on the Army Corps and FEMA to work together to repair damage to Florida's beaches following Hurricane Matthew to protect the coastline and mitigate future damage.  Strong shorelines and dunes provide vital barriers to protect lives and property from storm surges and beach restoration is found to have a high return on investment.

"Healthy beaches are the first line of defense against a hurricane's storm surge, playing a pivotal role protecting life, property, and businesses," Murphy wrote.  "For mitigation of future damage and repairing damage done to our coast from the storm, I urge USACE and FEMA to work together with an eye to swift and complete restoration."


Please find the full text of the letter below and attached:


October 14, 2016

The Honorable Jo-Ellen Darcy                                    
Assistant Secretary of the Army                                 
108 Army Pentagon                                                    
Washington, DC 20310-0108

The Honorable W. Craig Fugate
Administrator
Federal Emergency Management Agency
500 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20472

Dear Secretary Darcy and Administrator Fugate:

I want to thank the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the pre-storm preparation efforts established for Hurricane Matthew. The collaboration between local, state, and federal emergency management officials along with organizations like the American Red Cross were vital in getting important safety and preparedness information to Florida residents. While our state was predominantly spared from the absolute devastation associated with a storm of this magnitude, Florida still sustained substantial damage and loss of human life in parts of my district, central, and northern Florida.  Along with heavy flooding and major damage to some roads, our state received damage to its shoreline, depleting beaches and weakening and destroying dunes – even in areas that didn't see the worst of the storm.

As you know, healthy beaches are the first line of defense against a hurricane's storm surge, playing a pivotal role protecting life, property, and businesses.  For mitigation of future damage and repairing damage done to our coast from the storm, I urge USACE and FEMA to work together with an eye to swift and complete restoration.

Thank you again for your combined and continued efforts in providing assistance to residents across Florida and in my district. 

Sincerely,

Patrick E. Murphy
Member of Congress

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