The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) has announced that it is halting the funding of projects already in progress for hazard mitigation aimed at reducing the long-term risks and costs of natural disasters. FEMA will also discontinue new awards from the $750 million in remaining funds this year for the Congressionally authorized and funded Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program. 

The BRIC grants were aimed at preventing or reducing exactly the kind of catastrophic storm damage which devastated much of western North Carolina during Hurricane Helene. In halting BRIC grants, the Trump Administration is continuing its all-out assault on any program which recognizes the dangers of climate change and attempts to act on that recognition.

BRIC grants were awarded to states, counties, and municipalities, and their elimination will further complicate disaster response and prevention efforts across the nation.

North Carolinians Lose Disaster Relief

The announcement comes in response to Trump’s Executive Order to evaluate FEMA, and further underscores Trump’s indifference to climate disasters. As a result of this action, our state is expected lose around $184 million in disaster relief, funding that is desperately needed in communities across our state.