Ocean Shores advances tsunami-tower design; FEMA support and additional grant sought

City staff told the Public Works Committee that design work for a tsunami tower is about 65% complete and that staff plan to wrap up design and pursue additional grant funding to cover higher-than-anticipated costs. Staff said the current grant that funded part of the design will be reconciled (reimbursing unused funds) and that staff will apply for another grant to complete construction.

Representatives said FEMA has the city on a pathfinder program to support the work; staff relayed FEMA comments that the agency is interested in installing multiple towers along the coast and that some FEMA and state estimates call for dozens of towers regionally (staff recalled a figure of roughly 44 towers for the entire coast). City staff said Ocean Shores's topography means the city could need more towers than other communities, though staff also said they expect far fewer than the number sometimes discussed and mentioned five to six as a more realistic local outcome.

City staff discussed the short-notice risk of a large offshore earthquake and cited modeling that indicates limited warning time in some scenarios; staff framed the towers as part of a preparedness strategy that would reduce risk to residents. Staff did not announce construction dates or a final budget during the meeting.