Suffolk will receive $50,000 in grants from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Dam Safety, Flood Prevention and Protection Assistance Fund.

“These grants will kickstart planning and engineering work needed to keep people and property safe,” said Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Director Clyde E. Cristman in a news release. “As we are in hurricane season in the Mid-Atlantic, it’s important to remember that flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster. I’m pleased that dam owners and communities across Virginia are leveraging these funds to increase public safety.”

The money for the city will go toward the Lake Meade Dam — $10,000 for spillway capacity or overtopping analysis, another $10,000 for an alternatives analysis for spillway capacity and safety and $30,000 for a dam break inundation zone analysis, mapping and digitization.

The state has awarded more than $500,000 in state grants to improve safety at more than 20 dams and help create tools to let Virginia residents know about flood risk. It was established to provide 50/50 matching grants to dam owners whose dams are state regulated. The grants are also available to help local governments improve efforts in flood prevention and protection.