Article 77: Beaches and Sand Eligibility
(Category: facility-restore)
Article Summary
Sand replacement eligibility hinges on the beach type:
- Emergency Work: Category B berms are eligible to protect improved property, capped at 6 cubic yards per linear foot above the 5-year stillwater elevation.
- Permanent Work: Eligible only for "improved beaches" that were routinely maintained and engineered to a specific design (elevation, width, grain size, slope) prior to the disaster. Natural beaches are ineligible for permanent restoration.
Five Key Takeaways for CTA FEMA Compliance
- Enforce the 6-Cubic-Yard Emergency Sand Cap: Limit emergency sand berm claims to a maximum volume of 6 cubic yards per linear foot above the 5-year stillwater elevation.
- Provide Ironclad Proof of "Improved Beach" Engineering: Submit original construction design documents, grain size analyses, and historical "as-built" cross-sections to prove the asset is a qualified structure.
- Archive a Baseline of Regular Sand Re-Nourishments: Maintain a continuous, multi-year log of local sand re-nourishment projects to satisfy FEMA's routine maintenance prerequisite.
- Prohibit Permanent Replacement Funding for Natural Beaches: Limit all recovery claims for un-engineered, natural shorelines strictly to immediate Category B property protection; omit any long-term sand replacement designs.
- Include Dune Grass Costs in Baseline Estimates: If local permits mandate dune grass installation on an emergency berm, bundle those costs into the initial project worksheet.
