FEMA plans to fund the city's rebuild of the Vinoy Basin seawall, damaged by Hurricane Milton, with a steel wall and new sidewalk. Comments are due Nov. 11.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency intends to pay for the city’s repair of the Vinoy Basin seawall, which Hurricane Milton damaged. The city posted FEMA’s notice on Oct. 27 and opened a 15-day public comment period, which runs through Wednesday, Nov. 11.

The city announced the notice in a release on Oct. 27. It said the damaged wall is near Fifth Avenue NE, on the basin beside Vinoy Park.

What the city rebuilt

The work has already been done. FEMA’s public notice says the city used contracts to repair the wall to current codes and standards. The city:

  • replaced the concrete seawall with a steel sheet pile wall
  • replaced the concrete sidewalk along it
  • packed soil fill and geofabric against the back of the steel piles to cut erosion, settling and sinkholes behind the wall

That last step is a hazard mitigation measure, and the notice puts its cost at $59,465. The notice does not give the total cost of the project or how much FEMA will pay.

The money comes through FEMA’s Public Assistance program, which reimburses local governments for disaster repairs. The city is the applicant.

Why FEMA has to ask

The wall sits in a mapped flood zone. The notice places it in Zones VE and AE on the county’s flood insurance rate map, panel 12103C0219H. Federal rules require FEMA to publish a notice and consider alternatives before it funds work in a floodplain.

FEMA looked at two alternatives and rejected both:

  • Doing nothing. The notice says that would risk “a severe structural collapse,” create safety hazards and limit access to parts of the park.
  • Moving the wall. The notice says the wall has to stay where it is because it stabilizes the park land behind it and keeps public access safe.

FEMA said the only practicable choice is to fund the work as done. The money depends on the city meeting all federal, state and local rules and permit conditions.

What it means for you

Anyone can comment, ask questions or request a map of the project. Write to FEMA by Wednesday, Nov. 11:

  • Email: FEMA.R4EHP@fema.dhs.gov
  • Mail: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region 4, 3005 Chamblee-Tucker Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30341
  • Subject line: “FL-4834-PW-00075 PN 766963 City of St. Petersburg”

FEMA said this is both the first and final public notice for the project.

For more on the waterfront parks, see our parks and trails guide. For storm planning, see our hurricane preparation page.