Projo — Army Corps proposes lifting 341 buildings

Houses along Atlantic Avenue in Westerly have been rebuilt and raised, such as this one that was described as a lollipop. The Providence Journal / Kathy Borchers

Nov 13, 2016

By Alex Kuffner — In a bid to reduce the potential damage from flooding caused by storm surges, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has put forward a $58.6-million plan that would largely be funded through taxpayer money to lift up 341 private structures on the Washington County coast.

The plan, which is still being finalized as the Army Corps seeks public comment, covers homes and a handful of businesses situated around barrier beaches and salt ponds along 28 miles of shoreline in Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown and Narragansett. All the structures are susceptible to flooding from a 100-year storm (which has a 1-percent chance of happening in any year) or a 500-year storm (which has a 0.2-percent chance), as determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

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