The state is now accepting applications for more than $3 billion in available federal funding to boost resiliency and mitigate impacts of climate change.
Now, counties, cities, towns, villages, and tribal governments throughout New York can apply for new funding to support initiatives designed to boost resiliency and mitigate the effects of climate change.
This includes threats of flash flooding, wildfires, and hurricanes. While New York doesn’t have as much exposure in the latter category, flash flooding has become an increasingly large problem.
Flooding along the Lake Ontario shorelines in Monroe, Wayne, and Cayuga counties, as well as flooding associated with stronger storms in the Southern Tier and Seneca County have all been documented since 2017-2018.
FEMA will make up to $2.295 billion available to states through the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program and up to $800 million through the Flood Mitigation Assistance grant program.
Governor Kathy Hochul is also encouraging New Yorkers to assess their own personal preparedness so they can remain safe during or after disaster.
“We have seen the devastating impacts of climate change and extreme weather far too often in New York State, and in response we are preparing for the future,” Governor Hochul said. “My administration will continue to invest in resiliency measures across the state to ensure our infrastructure can withstand the next so-called hundred-year storm, and I encourage all of our local government partners to apply for this critical funding.”
The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) funding programs are nationally competitive mitigation grants which prioritize projects that promote natural risk reduction to public infrastructure and disadvantaged communities, as well as solutions that work towards enhancing climate resilience and reducing carbon emissions.
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) funds may be used for:
- Capability and capacity building (C&CB) activities
- Mitigation projects
- Management costs
Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) funds may be used for projects that reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings insured by the National Flood Insurance Program including:
- Project Scoping
- Technical Assistance
- Community Flood Mitigation Projects
- Individual Structure/Property-Level Flood Mitigation Projects
- Management Costs
The state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) will review the applications from eligible sub-applicants and assist with any questions on the process. DHSES has scheduled a series of informational webinars about the BRIC and FMA programs for sub-applicants:
- 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20
- 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28
- 11 a.m. to Noon, Tuesday, Oct. 4
- 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12
- Noon to 1 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 18
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