Surfside Beach leaders disappointed by FEMA pier funding

Surfside Beach, S.C. (WPDE) — For more than a year, Surfside Beach leaders have been waiting for FEMA to declare how much money the town will receive to rebuild its pier.

But when they received their answer, it wasn’t what they were hoping for.

At Tuesday’s Town Council meeting, Surfside Beach Town Administrator Micki Fellner said FEMA will not pay the town more than $5.6 million for the rebuild.

Earlier this year, Town Council voted to pursue a new pier with a concrete foundation, which is more durable, but more expensive.

The town estimates the true cost will be around $9.2 million.

“[If the town can’t get additional funding], we’re going back with a wood structure. You know what that means–the next category 1 storm that comes in, we’re going to be going back to FEMA again,” Fellner said.

ABC15 News reached out to a FEMA to find out why the funding was capped at $5.6 million, and why the pier project was not eligible for a Special Public Assistance Program that Fellner said would have paid for 75 percent of the rebuilding costs.

According to an agency spokesman, the town qualifies for neither because of four factors:

• The town of Surfside Beach made the decision to replace the damaged pier instead of repairing it.
• Mitigation funds are not eligible through the Public Assistance Program when a project is replaced.
• The project funds awarded to Surfside Beach cover the costs of replacement that are up to the current building codes, which were written in consideration of potentially damaging weather events.
• Further mitigation, which would take the project above and beyond those building codes, are not eligible for FEMA funding through the Public Assistance Program.

Both Fellner and Surfside Beach Mayor Bob Childs said they are working with South Carolina’s senators in an attempt to get around agency rules.

“We know we’re losing money, they know we’re losing money, but we are going to do it as quick as we can,” Mayor Bob Childs promised.