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Earthquakes cost the nation an estimated $14.7 billion annually in building damage and associated losses according to a new report released jointly by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and FEMA. The announcement was made April 18 at the annual Seismological Society of America meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The new estimate is twice that of previous annual estimates due to increased building value and the fact that the report incorporates the latest hazards as well as improvements to building inventories.
Annualized loss—the metric that seismologists used in the report—is derived from combining earthquake hazards, building exposure and vulnerability, and it represents a long-term average. The Annualized Earthquake Loss Ratio expresses the estimated annualized loss as a fraction of the building inventory replacement value.
Annualized earthquake-loss ratios have consistently decreased compared to previous estimates throughout the western U.S., indicating that building vulnerability has reduced. Compared to previous estimates in 2001, 2008 and 2017, the annualized earthquake loss ratios have consistently decreased throughout the western U.S., indicating that the work being done to reduce building vulnerability has proven successful. Although new construction benefits from modern seismic codes and the latest science and earthquake-engineering research, vulnerable older buildings continue to bear much of the underlying risk seen in the loss estimates.
USGS science on earthquake hazards and FEMA’s latest Hazus 6.0 loss estimation software release were critical components of this analysis.
While most of the economic loss is concentrated along the West Coast due to that region’s high seismic hazard as well as significant population and building exposure, earthquake risk is present throughout the country. For example, there are a combined $3.1 billion per year projected losses across the central U.S., Rocky Mountain region, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The new estimate includes a significant nationwide effort to improve earthquake hazard data. It also includes baseline building exposure data now valued at $107.8 trillion that benefited from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers National Structure Inventory.
FEMA seeks content input on the “Information Sharing Guide for Private-Public Partnerships” and the “Economic Resilience Guide for Private-Public Partnerships.” The guides are for any private-public partnership with a cooperative arrangement between two or more entities of private industry and public sector organizations for their mutual benefit. They are designed to help ensure life safety, economic security and resilience in communities.
The “Information Sharing Guide for Private-Public Partnerships” provides recommendations and resources for partnerships to develop, conduct and improve information sharing capabilities during resilience, response and recovery operations. Partnerships members often share information through the human and technical systems of a partnership network, a community resilience hub or a business emergency operations center.
The “Economic Resilience Guide for Private-Public Partnerships” provides recommendations for a private-public partnership to help jurisdictions reduce economic risks and vulnerabilities for local businesses, industries, supply chains and community lifelines. This guide is useful to emergency managers, economic development planners, civic leaders, city or county managers and elected officials within their area of operations.
This review affords an opportunity to provide substantive content recommendations for continued development and refinement of the drafts. The results of this review will inform the development of the published versions of the guides for whole community use.
To download the documents, visit FEMA.gov. To submit feedback, email the completed form on information sharing or economic resilience to NPD-Planning@fema.dhs.gov using subject line “P3 Feedback” by May 25, 2023.
The FEMA State and Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guides (policies), released in April 2022, became effective on April 19, 2023.
FEMA updated the policies to:
- Meet agency priorities, one key priority is climate change.
- Include new grants that require mitigation plans.
- Encourage plans that lead to equitable outcomes.
- Promote long-term investments in community resilience.
State and local governments must have FEMA-approved plans to receive non-emergency funding.
The policies are the official interpretation of laws that require mitigation plans. These include the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended.
The policies also align with Title 44 Code of Federal Regulations Part 201 Mitigation Planning. FEMA has tools, resources and training on mitigation planning. To see what is available, visit the Create a Mitigation Plan web page.
For more on the policies, visit the Policy Update web page on FEMA.gov.
FEMA published a video on the Heritage Emergency National Task Force, co-sponsored with the Smithsonian Institution, which provides training for U.S.-based cultural stewards and emergency managers on how to work together to respond to disasters and help protect the nation’s cultural heritage.
The task force, created in 2015, aims to protect our nation’s cultural heritage by training cultural stewards (such as museum curators), first responders and emergency managers to work together when responding to incidents at cultural institutions and historic sites institutions and historic sites in a manner that preserves important artifacts and records.
Much of the training is conducted through the week-long Heritage Emergency and Response Training (HEART) program. In this one session, participants practice evacuating a collection, gaining the skills and experience needed to better integrate the protection of cultural heritage into disaster risk management. This video follows a release of the August 2022 video, FEMA Helps Disaster Survivors Save Family Treasures.
Visit the FEMA blog to read more or visit the agency’s YouTube page for the full video. For more information about the Heritage Emergency National Task Force, visit https://culturalrescue.si.edu/hentf/ or email fema-hentf@fema.dhs.gov.
Revolving Loan Fund Application Period Closes April 28
FEMA is accepting applications to the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund grant program; the application period will close at 3 p.m. ET on April 28. Loans will be available to help local governments satisfy non-federal cost share requirements under FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs, update the adoption and enforcement of building codes and make zoning and land use changes.
The program has been expanded to give 20 federally recognized tribal nations and insular areas the same eligibility to apply as states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. As defined by the Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Act, insular areas are American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands.
The funding notice is available at Grants.gov. Eligible entities must apply for funding using the
Non-Disaster (ND) Grants Management System (ND Grants). Visit FEMA.gov for more information.
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Nonprofit Security Grant Program Webinars Now Available
FEMA invites nonprofit organizations to participate in upcoming webinars regarding the Nonprofit Security Grant Program. The program provides funding support through a competitive process for facility hardening and other security enhancements to nonprofit organizations at high risk of a terrorist or other extremist attack. For all attendees, it is strongly recommended that you review the existing program resources available FEMA.gov.
To attend a webinar, register in advance on FEMA.gov. Webinars will be held:
If you have any questions regarding these webinars or require special accommodations, email
FEMA-NSGP@fema.dhs.gov.
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FEMA and DOE Co-Host Energy Resilience Webinar Series
The Department of Energy invites FEMA stakeholders to participate in a series of energy storage webinars. Energy storage is the key to unleashing the power of renewables; relieving generation, transmission, distribution demands and hastening the transition to a decarbonized future. Experts from the national labs, regional agencies and other organizations will present and offer time for discussion and questions.
Visit energy.sandia.gov to learn more and register for the webinars. The next webinar will be held at 1 p.m. ET on April 26, register in advance.
Grants for microgrid projects are available through several FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs. Visit FEMA.gov to learn more.
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FEMA Exercise Support Applications Due June 1
FEMA provides state, local, tribal and territorial governments with no-cost technical assistance for exercises through the agency’s National Exercise Program. Support is tailored to the needs of the jurisdiction and can include assistance with exercise planning, design, scenario development, conduct and evaluation.
Applications for 2023 exercise support is open now through June 1. There is no associated cost share for selected jurisdictions for this exercise assistance. On April 27 at 3 p.m. ET, FEMA will host a webinar to discuss the exercise support process.
For additional information, including the application process and frequently asked questions, visit FEMA.gov/NEP. For questions, email NEP@fema.dhs.gov and include “2023 Exercise Support Question” in the subject line. An invitation will be sent to participate in weekday office hour sessions.
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FEMA Seeks New Members for the National Advisory Council
FEMA is seeking qualified individuals to lend their expertise and serve on the agency’s National Advisory Council.
The council includes a geographically diverse and substantive cross-section of 40 members who advise the FEMA Administrator on all aspects of emergency management, ensuring input from and coordination with state, local, tribal and territorial governments, as well as the private and nonprofit sectors.
The agency is accepting applications for seven discipline-specific positions and up to two Administrator-selected positions. Newly selected members will serve up to a three-year term on the council. If other positions open, FEMA may select qualified candidates from the pool of applications.
If you are interested in applying to the National Advisory Council, view the Federal Register for instructions. Applications are due by midnight ET on May 21. Per the Federal Advisory Committee Act, federal employees are ineligible to apply. For a description of each position, please go to the Charter.
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