Chapter 7 › XIII.W.4 Emergency Berms on Beaches

Can we build emergency sand berms to protect property after beach erosion?

FEMA term

Emergency berms on beaches

Short answer

Yes, when erosion leaves improved property exposed to damage from a 5-year storm. Cost-effective emergency berms to protect against that storm are eligible; they are not meant to restore the beach permanently.

What FEMA requires

Show that the 5-year still water level plus wave runup exceeds the post-incident elevation of the primary dune.
FEMA funds up to 6 cubic yards of sand per linear foot above the 5-year still water level or the pre-incident profile, whichever is less, plus base sand below it if needed.
Imported sand is eligible only if recoverable sand is insufficient or regulations prohibit using it, and the source meets environmental rules.
Dune grass is eligible only when required by permit as a uniform practice; later maintenance is not.
A berm on a natural beach does not make it an eligible Category G facility in future disasters, and sand volumes can’t be pooled across disasters.

Documentation

Pre- and post-storm beach profiles, the 5-year water level and runup calculation, sand quantities and sources.

Watch out · Govstar practitioner advice

Survey beach profiles before storm season. Without a pre-incident profile, the eligible volume is hard to establish.

Govstar summarizes FEMA’s Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide in plain language and links to the official text. Govstar is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. This is general guidance, not legal advice.