FEMA Announces $1.35 Billion in Funding for Climate Resilience Programs

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced $1.35 billion for two grant programs, to improve climate resilience and tackle the effects of adverse weather. The annual Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities, or BRIC, grant program will provide $750 million to projects that protect communities and infrastructure against natural disasters. The Flood Mitigation Assistance program will provide $600 million in funding for initiatives that protect communities from flood risks.

Under the BRIC program, selected projects will aim to meet several climate resilience objectives. The first objective is to improve climate literacy in the emergency management community, such as awareness of natural hazard risks and learning the best strategies for hazard mitigation and climate adaptation. The projects will also include multi-hazard resilience or nature-based solutions, and help communities identify and manage natural hazard risks. Another key goal of the initiative is to direct more natural hazard management resources to disadvantaged communities and eliminate disparities in emergency response between communities.

BRIC hazard mitigation projects should encourage investments in greenhouse gas reduction, such as using low-carbon materials. Applicants will utilize climate data to assess the current and future effects of climate change such as sea level rises and high winds.

Of the total $750 million BRIC funding, state-level projects will receive around $112 million, projects in tribal communities will receive $50 million, and $451 million allocated for national competition. Eligible projects have until April 18 to submit proposals.

To date, the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has invested over $4.5 billion in total for the two programs, including $1 billion for BRIC and $3.5 billion for Flood Mitigation Assistance. Currently, the programs have announced around $2 billion for selected projects under the two initiatives.