Oakland, Calif. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) granted $1.3 million to La Mesa, California for storm drain improvements that increase flood protection for area residents. The Boulevard Drive Storm Drain Improvement Project in southwest La Mesa will build a new storm drain and reconnect piping to a well-functioning drain, bypassing a chokepoint and degraded section of the system.
Rainfall events of 1-1.5 inches have overwhelmed area storm drains, resulting in flooding to major roads, side streets, and private and public property. In December 2010, rainfall caused flooding that infiltrated the city’s sewer system near the project location, which forced more than a million gallons of raw sewage onto the streets.
Completion of the project will significantly increase system capacity to handle upper drainage basin flows without backing up the city's local storm drain system and causing widespread flooding.
The $1.7 million project is funded by a $1.3 million hazard mitigation grant from FEMA, with non-federal sources covering the remaining $430,000.
FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program helps states, territories, federally-recognized tribes, local communities and certain private, non-profit organizations become more resilient to potential infrastructure damage and reduce future disaster costs.
###
FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. Follow FEMA Region IX online at twitter.com/femaregion9 or view more news releases at fema.gov/fema-regions/region-ix.