City Seeks Federal Resiliency Funds for Seeling Channel Project

Published on January 12, 2023

City Seeks Federal Resiliency Funds for Channel Flood-Reduction Project

SAN ANTONIO (January 12, 2022) — City Council approved submission of a grant application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program. If awarded, the grant will fund improvements to the Seeling Channel.
 
“The City has made progress in protecting lives and homes from flooding over the last decade, but there is still have much to accomplish until every household is safe,” said Councilwoman Sandoval. “We hope the federal government recognizes the importance of this flood-prevention project to this vulnerable part of the city.”
 
The project includes installing a new underground storm drain system, including associated roadway and channel reconstruction. As many as 130 residential structures will no longer be considered at risk of flooding because of heavy rain.
 
Phases 4 and 5 of the Seeling Channel drainage project will cost $30.79 million. The City is requesting $12.9 million through the grant program. The rest of the funds will come from a combination of sources, including the voter approved 2022 Bond Program and a $4 million contribution from Bexar County.
 
The mission of the BRIC program is “to categorically shift the federal focus away from reactive disaster spending and toward research-supported, proactive investment in community resilience.”