Dear Southeast Community,
June marked the start of the Atlantic hurricane season. NOAA predicts this hurricane season will be above-average in storm frequency. Of the 13 to 19 named storms that are predicted, six to 10 are predicted to become hurricanes, and three to five are predicted to be classified as major hurricanes, with winds measuring over 111 miles per hour. Read more in this NOAA update.
If a hurricane arrives, it's best to be prepared! The National Hurricane Center website provides regular storm updates so you can stay informed. Your state's Emergency Management Agency may provide the option for you to opt into text alerts. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has created a Build a Kit resource relevant to any emergency preparedness kit so that you can make sure that your family and fur babies are taken care of if a storm arrives unexpectedly.
Storms are a major source of marine debris! Read up on how you can prepare your home, yard, and belongings for a storm to reduce your contributions to storm-related marine debris.
Please feel free to reach out to me at caroline.morris@noaa.gov about how storms are impacting debris on your coastline. And as always, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any other marine debris-related questions or topics.
Cheers,
Caroline
|
 |
An abandoned derelict vessel at imminent risk of sinking at the Port of Newport, Oregon, will be removed under a groundbreaking removal program. (credit Dorothy Diehl, Oregon Dept. of State Lands)
The BoatUS Foundation Announces 10 New Projects Under the Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Removal Grant Program
We are pleased to announce, in partnership with the BoatUS Foundation, 10 new marine debris removal projects under the Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Removal Grant Program. These projects represent an investment of nearly $7.4 million for removal of abandoned and derelict vessels with funds provided by the NOAA Marine Debris Program.
In the southeast, we are excited to share that the North Carolina Coastal Federation will remove at least 12 old, unused boats from fishing communities and working harbors along the North Carolina coast. Old fishing vessels that were once essential assets can become too expensive to maintain and are left behind. Removing these boats will support North Carolina’s commercial fishing communities, which are an important part of the state’s economy. The projects will also remove derelict vessels in Alaska, Guam, Louisiana, Maine, Oregon, Washington, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Learn more on the BoatUS website.
Partners in the Southeast and Florida Prepare for Hurricane-Generated Marine Debris
NOAA’s Marine Debris Program (MDP), in partnership with FEMA Region 4 Environmental and Historic Preservation Division, hosted a virtual webinar on July 29th to share information and resources related to marine debris response in the Southeast and Florida regions. Over 75 participants, representing all levels of government and non-governmental organizations, joined the webinar and engaged with speakers on their experiences and questions related to marine debris after disasters.
During the webinar, MDP staff shared information about their roles in emergency response to marine debris, as well as tools and resources that can be used to better prepare for and respond to the impacts of disaster debris. MDP’s main response resources are the Marine Debris Emergency Response Guides, which serve as a synthesis of existing information on organization roles, responsibilities, and jurisdictions. During the presentation, the MDP Response Specialist shared examples of how these tools can be used to better prepare for debris generated by hurricanes and other incidents in the southeast and Florida regions.
Presenters from FEMA’s Environmental and Historic Preservation Division (EHP) also shared information about their roles in disaster response, and what to do after a hurricane. They gave an overview of FEMA’s major grant programs, including Preparedness Grants, Response and Recovery Grants, and Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA), and how EHP is incorporated into the eligibility process for these programs. The FEMA Public Assistance Policy & Program Guide, Version 5, which is the most recent edition of this resource, can be used as a guide to determine eligibility under FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) Program.
The webinar emphasized the importance of interagency coordination prior to a disaster, and how our response partners can increase readiness for a disaster, stay up to date on relevant contacts and processes, and navigate eligibility for disaster recovery funding.
For more information about marine debris response resources, please reach out to caroline.morris@noaa.gov.
|
Now Available: New Fact Sheet on Disaster Response Tools
Responding to disaster debris can be challenging, so the NOAA Marine Debris Program, in partnership with other federal, state, and local organizations, has created resources that can help these organizations be better prepared. This document outlines how the Marine Debris Emergency Response Guides can be used as a tool to help mitigate disaster debris impacts by facilitating a coordinated, and well managed response.
View the fact sheet here.
|
NEW: The Marine Debris Hyperspectral Reference Library Collection (MADLib)
The preprint for a paper on using remote sensing to monitor marine debris out of the Rivero-Calle Lab at the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography is currently under review for publication!
Summary: Marine debris poses a growing threat to the environment. Monitoring from remote sensing is promising, but there are limitations due to the diversity of marine debris. The open-access MADLib collection, with 24,889 hyperspectral reflectances from 3,032 diverse debris samples, is anticipated to support algorithm and sensor development based on well-curated, representative spectra of marine debris. We also discuss gaps and propose improved metadata schemes for expanding the living MADLib collection.
Read more here and view the data collection here.
Marine Debris Featured in Boating Article: What Happens to Abandoned Boats?
A recent article in Boating Magazine, written by Morgan Sherburne, describes abandoned and derelict vessel (ADV) removal work being conducted by the BoatUS Foundation as well as programs in Virginia, Washington, Florida, Oregon, California, Rhode Island, and South Carolina.
Read more here about how these programs are addressing ADVs!
(Photo: TowBoatUS Ft. Lauderdale.)
|
Use NOAA's Find Your Beach Forecast tool to explore beach and surf zone information, including forecasts of rip currents, waves, water temperature, and more. (Photo: NOAA)
Heading to the Beach This Weekend?
Did you miss NOAA Beach Safety Week? Find helpful information about common beach safety hazards like riptides and debris. Plus, learn how to check your beach forecast to make sure that tides, currents, weather, or bacteria levels won't get in the way of your beach plans!
 |
|
Coastal Program FY25, Department of the Interior
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Coastal Program is a community-based program that helps coastal areas with technical and financial support to address complex conservation challenges of priority coastal ecosystems. This support is mainly provided through cooperative agreements with conservation partners and landowners, including state and Tribal agencies.
The goal is to restore and protect fish and wildlife habitats on both public and private lands. Coastal Program staff work with partners, stakeholders, and other Service programs in important areas for conservation. They set goals and priorities for habitat conservation in these focus areas. The program has specific lists of priority species and focus areas for each U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service region. Learn more here.
Deadline: September 30, 2025
|
 |
|
Ocean Exchange 2025 Collegiate Call for Solutions
If you're working on a breakthrough idea that supports ocean or coastal resilience, apply for a chance to pitch at Ocean Exchange’s event in Ft. Lauderdale, Oct. 26–28, and win one of three $10,000 awards. Open to undergraduate, graduate, and recent grads from a recognized postsecondary educational institution in North America. Register here.
Deadline: September 17, 2025
|
 |
|
Extreme Weather and Natural Hazards Solutions
National Geographic Society is seeking to fund impactful projects driving science-based solutions to the growing threat of extreme weather events and natural hazards such as wildfires, hurricanes, tornados, droughts, floods, heatwaves and severe storms. Projects should aim to increase adaptability and resilience to these events and demonstrate tangible positive impacts on people and nature. Proposals may request up to $50,000 USD in funding for a two year project, and both new and ongoing projects will be considered. Learn more here.
Informational webinar: September 11th, at 9:00 p.m. ET (register)
Deadline: September 19th, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET
|
 |
|
FY2025 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program | U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA)
The EDA Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program makes approximately $1.45 billion available to support economic recovery activities in areas that received major disaster declarations because of hurricanes, wildfires, severe storms and flooding, tornadoes, and other natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2023 and 2024. EDA’s Disaster NOFO provides funding through three funding pathways:
- Readiness Path – Capacity building and strategic planning projects that set the stage for future investment.
- Implementation Path – Standalone construction and non-construction projects that help communities recover from natural disasters and advance recovery and growth.
- Industry Transformation Path – Coalition-led, multi-project portfolios that transform regional economies through targeted industry development.
Learn more here.
Deadline (Applications for Readiness and Implementation grants): Rolling
Deadline (Applications for Industry Transformation grants): March 3, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET
|
 |
|
One SC Fund: Disaster Response
The One SC Fund is now accepting grant applications from nonprofits to support Hurricane Helene relief, recovery, rebuilding efforts, and debris cleanup.
Grants from the One SC Fund support nonprofit organizations providing relief and recovery assistance in South Carolina after state-declared disasters. In coordination with the South Carolina Office of Resilience, an agency of the Governor’s Cabinet, resources received by the fund are directed to communities most in need.
Organizations may request up to $50,000. Collaborative applications may be considered at a higher amount. Learn more here.
Deadline: Rolling
|
 |
|
The Nature Conservancy's Living Shorelines Community Assistance Program | South Carolina Office of Resilience
Through this multi-year grant program, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is offering private landowners and communities the opportunity to protect their properties and community spaces from shoreline erosion through the implementation of living shorelines.
The SC Office of Resilience (SCOR) is partnering with TNC on this project, and will be collecting applications through this website.
Deadline: Prescreening form now open, application due dates TBA.
|
Photo: Ocean Conservancy
International Coastal Cleanup
The International Coastal Cleanup, led by |
