By Charlotte Smith
The Town of Elizabethtown City Cemetery, located on East Queen Street behind the Bladen County Public Library in Elizabethtown, has shown significant geological damage since Hurricane Florence, as well as other areas in the downtown area. Approval for funding for the local cemetery repair project was announced today.
In August 2019, Mr. Eddie Madden, Town of Elizabethtown Manager, announced the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) wanted to return the cemetery to pre-storm conditions. The Town has worked on a plan with engineers to stabilize the existing cemetery, both north and south of Queen Street, so that it can be used for its intended purpose while keeping the remains of the deceased protected and in place.
Assistant Town Manager Pat DeVane explained there will be a sheet pile wall constructed to assist in returning the cemetery to pre-storm conditions.
Photos taken April 2019
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On Thursday morning, an announcement of approved funding came from the Office of U.S. Senator Thom Tillis to Mr. Madden.
In the announcement, Jason A. Nelson, Chief with Disaster Response and Recover, confirmed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)approved Federal grants for the State of North Carolina associated with Hurricane Florence.
The total project cost for the Elizabethtown project is $5,235,649.86, according to the announcement. FEMA’s share of funding is $3,926,737.40, which totals 75% of the project costs.
The announcement states, “This award provides $3,926,737.40 in federal funding to the Town of Elizabethtown for cemetery repairs as a result of FEMA-DR-4393-NC (Hurricane Florence). Funding for this project is authorized under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Act.”
Mr. Madden explained the project will be covered by a combination of State and Federal Funds.
“In the very beginning, when we started talking about this issue, it was my hope and prayer that we could leave the cemetery where it is at and make the necessary repairs. At one time, the project looked as if it would be too expensive to do, but through a lot of hard work, we can keep the cemetery where it is and protect Elizabethtown,” Mayor Syliva Campbell said.
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Mr. Madden said, “We are ahead of the curve because we started on the steps needed for the project while waiting for the obligation from FEMA. He continued, “Now we will submit the over $300,000 in costs the Town has incurred on the project for reimbursement. The next step will be to go after bids.”
The Town hopes to request bids for the project by summer and, start the work on the cemetery project beginning in the fall, according to Madden.
Last year, Mr. DeVane reported the construction project could take two years or more. Details on the actual schedule of the project may be provided once the bid is awarded to a contractor.
When asked if the sheet pile wall proposal will protect the area from future hurricanes and storms, Mayor Campbell said, “They (FEMA) wouldn’t have put that much money to move forward with a project if they didn’t think it was the right fix.”
Mayor Campbell said the funding would help save Elizabethtown. Since the 2018 hurricane, reports of geological damages in the downtown area, as well as the cemetery, have been investigated. Also, The Highway 701 bridge over the Cape Fear River has been under investigation and repair.
The geological disasters on Queens Street is not the only area of concern. Behind the downtown stores on Broad Street, some geological hazards have been noticed as well.
Currently, the beginning of Martin Luther King Drive beside Wells Fargo Bank parking lot is marked with cones due to erosion. Mayor Campbell said engineers have been surveying that area as well, and officials will be addressing the needs of that area as well.
“The good news is it’s secure for now, and it will be addressed as well,” Mayor Campbell said.
More information will be provided as soon as it becomes avaliable.
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