FEMA’s BRIC program readied
We all know that whenever and wherever we can do so, reducing risk is smart public policy. Following some very big and expensive storms over the past 15 years, FEMA is continuing to pursue a new program of reducing risk through hazard mitigation. And it’s continuing to seek public input to make further refinements in preparation for launching the program across the country later this year.
The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program focuses on pre-disaster mitigation by helping local and state governments fund projects that will reduce risk from natural hazards and disasters. BRIC replaces the existing Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program and is a result of changes made to the 1988 Stafford Act by the 2018 Disaster Recovery Reform Act.
After decades of spending tens of billions of dollars on disaster relief – sometimes in the same communities – BRIC aims to shift the federal focus away from reactive disaster spending to proactive investment in community resilience. Through BRIC, FEMA will continue to invest in a variety of mitigation activities with an added focus on infrastructure projects and community lifelines. Emphasis is being put on projects that are research-supported and demonstrate innovative approaches in design and/or funding through partnerships. Under BRIC, FEMA will set aside 6% of estimated disaster expenses for each major disaster to fund a mitigation grant program.
In developing the proposed policy, FEMA reached out to stakeholders for input and said it gave serious consideration to comments received during the comprehensive engagement process last year. The result is this 72-page report summarizing that feedback, including a bulleted four-page summary of pre-engagement strategy. One of the rather startling takeaways: nearly a quarter of respondents said their access to risk data is inadequate or incomplete. FEMA is now accepting additional comments on BRIC through May 11 toward making final refinements.
FEMA anticipates finalizing the proposed policy and releasing a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) later this year. FEMA will post a NOFO on grants.gov each year, providing detailed program information and other grant application and administration requirements. You can learn more here on the BRIC webpage.
LMA Newsletter of 4-27-20
