$30 million grant from FEMA set to improve drainage in Savannah

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Long-awaited relief could be on the way for flood-prone areas in west Savannah.

Tuesday, the head of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency was in town praising a historic grant aimed at improving drainage.

This grant from the federal government totals $30 million. It’s one of the largest grants of its kind ever awarded.

The money will be used to curb drainage issues around the Springfield Canal that have long impacted the Carver Village and Cloverdale neighborhoods.

It’s called a Building Infrastructure and Communities grant and is part of the Biden Administration’s Justice40 initiative which secures funding for underserved communities.

You may remember this grant was first announced back in December and during Tuesday’s celebration, we learned more about what exactly this money will be used for.

FEMA’s Administrator says the project will divert flood water runoff to the Springfield Canal, increasing capacity to handle a once-in-a-century rainfall event.

Drainage pipe and railroad crossing improvements are also in the works.

“As a result, Carver Village, Cloverdale, and the west side of Savannah will be better protected from the repetitive flooding it has seen. And it will be better protected for generations to come,” said FEMA Administrator Deanna Criswell.

FEMA says 17 neighborhoods across the city will experience flood reduction impacts because of this project.

“Projects like this reduce the impact of these storms,” Criswell said.

The grant comes as the agency says natural disasters are becoming more frequent and costly.

“Every dollar that we invest in mitigation, every dollar that we invest in resilience, saves $6 in response and recovery costs.”

FEMA says phase 1 will bring flood water drainage improvements along a mile and a half stretch of the Springfield Canal from Bowles C. Ford park to the Highway 17 on-ramp.

Phase 2 will bring infrastructure upgrades to the historic Carver Village and Cloverdale neighborhoods, diverting runoff to the canal.

“We’re not going to change the storms from coming, but we can affect how they impact communities and how we can make sure we are protecting people, saving lives and keeping them in their homes.”

Flooding has long plagued these communities with leaders saying the threat of rising waters has stoked anxiety in some residents.

“The people here are resilient, but the infrastructure is not. But help is here. Help has arrived,” said District 1 Alderwoman Bernetta Lanier.

“It’s very long overdue, but we had to get them to address it on the federal level,” said Historic Carver Village Neighborhood Association President Chester Ellis.

Chatham County commissioner Chester Ellis is the neighborhood association president of Carver Village, located in a historically Black community.

“This community, as well as others around here have been overlooked,” Ellis said.

Administrator Criswell’s visit comes just weeks before the Atlantic hurricane season starts. Some forecasters have predicted it will be more active than usual.

While the improvements in west Savannah aren’t expected to be ready in time for this year...Criswell says it’s a reminder for coastal Georgians to prepare.

“What I tell Georgians right now is the time is today. Know what you’re going to do if the local officials tell you to evacuate and know where you’re going to get that information from,” Criswell said.

FEMA says this project will help these communities handle a once-in-a-century rainfall event.

As for when the improvement work will actually begin, Savannah City Manager Jay Melder said it will take officials several months to plan out the project.

Mayor Van Johnson said the city will be using roughly $12 million in SPLOST funds as a local match for the grant.

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