 On March 8, FEMA published an amendment to the fiscal year 2023 funding opportunity, Flood Mitigation Assistance Swift Current, which received $300 million in funding to support projects to help make homes and buildings more resilient to flooding.
This funding opportunity is made available using funds from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Flood Mitigation Assistance Swift Current funds can make homes safer and more resilient for National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders with repetitively and substantially flood-damaged buildings aiming to deliver mitigation outcomes as quickly as possible.
The application period for this opportunity opened on Nov. 15, 2023. Full details of the amendment are available on Grants.gov.
A summary of the changes are as follows:
- Structures considered substantially flood-damaged during and after a flood event are eligible for the Swift Current grant opportunity. Once a disaster is declared, local communities can submit projects for consideration.
- U.S territories and federally recognized tribal governments are eligible to apply for FEMA assistance within 150 calendar days, providing an extra 30 days than before.
- The pre-calculated benefits section directs users to FEMA’s benefit-cost analysis webpage for the most up-to-date pre-calculated benefit amounts.
All eligible applicants must submit their FY 2023 Swift Current grant applications to FEMA via Mitigation eGrants. Upon Swift Current activation, FEMA will provide the application deadline to the applicant.
Before Flood Mitigation Assistance Swift Current activation, FEMA will announce the application deadlines to the applicant. FEMA will distribute funding on a rolling basis for eligible applicants to apply until the total available funding amount of $300 million has been used to aid projects in mitigating repetitive flooding.
Examples of eligible projects for this funding opportunity are property acquisition, demolition, elevation and relocation. With the requirement that buildings must be insured through the NFIP to be eligible for this opportunity.
To confirm deadlines and ensure subapplications are submitted on time, local governments should consult with their state, tribal or territorial agency. FEMA will distribute funding on a rolling basis as eligible applicants submit applications until the total available funding amount of $300 million is exhausted.
FEMA will work with states, Tribal Nations and territories to explore their participation during the application cycle.
The applicant meets the Swift Current activation criteria when:
- They receive a major disaster declaration for a flood-related event between June 1, 2023, and the disaster declaration deadline of May 31, 2024. Refer to Table 1 for additional information.
- A flood-related disaster includes coastal storms, hurricanes, remnants of hurricanes and floods.
 Table 1: The figure below provides an illustrative overview of the key steps in the Swift Current process.
The applicant must also meet at least one of the three conditions for special consideration:
- Of at least $1 million in prior NFIP flood insurance claims from June 1, 2022, until the disaster declaration date of May 31.
- The applicant has 500 or more NFIP flood insurance claims in the declared flood-related disaster.
- The applicant is a Tribal Nation or territory applying directly to FEMA.
Potential applicants with questions about the application process can contact their FEMA regional office, while interested subapplicants should contact their state or territory hazard mitigation officer.
FEMA's Office of Business, Industry, and Infrastructure Integration is hosting the March Business and Industry call to March 26 from 3 – 4 p.m. ET. to showcase updates being made to FEMA's Individual Assistance (IA) Program.
The updates are a significant step toward improving:
- The disaster survivor experience by simplifying processes.
- Removing barriers to services.
- Increasing eligibility for certain types of IA assistance.
This virtual call is part of FEMA's monthly business and industry calls, which are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month. These meetings update National Business Emergency Operations Center members, business and industry organizations and FEMA partners on available tools during all stages of the disaster lifecycle. Each month features different topics presented by experts from FEMA, interagency partners and business and industry organizations.
Organizations interested in joining the Emergency Operations Center can visit the National Business Emergency Operations Center | FEMA.gov to learn more.
Details of the event are below:
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Topic: FEMA's Office of Business, Industry and Infrastructure Integration March Business and Industry Call
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Date: Tuesday, March 26
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Time: 3 – 4 p.m. ET
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Location: Virtual
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Registration Link: https://bit.ly/3V3ygOe
On March 12, the U.S Fire Administration (USFA) announced the launch of the prototype version of the new, interoperable fire information and analytics platform, known as the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS). This new system is for American fire and emergency services.
NERIS will empower the local fire departments and emergency services communities by equipping them with near real-time information and analytic tools that support data informed decision-making for enhanced preparedness and response to emergency incidents involving fires, motor vehicle crashes, medical emergencies, hazardous materials spills and other occurrences.
Six local fire departments have successfully onboarded onto NERIS and started reporting local emergency incident information through the new system.
“The launch of the prototype NERIS and successful onboarding and use by these initial six fire departments represents a major step forward for USFA to fulfill our mission to equip the local fire and emergency services community with a modernized and easy-to-use solution to report critical incident information and provide them access to actionable intelligence,” said U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell.
The fire departments onboarded onto the prototype version of NERIS include:
- Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, Virginia.
- Frisco Fire Department, Texas.
- Orange County Fire Authority, California.
- Springdale Fire Department, Arkansas.
- Upper Merion Township Fire & EMS Department, Pennsylvania.
- West Metro Fire Rescue, Colorado.
USFA is working with these six fire departments to test and evaluate the prototype version of NERIS and to inform future development in preparation for the release the full production version in the fall of 2024.
NERIS is built using the latest geographic information system (GIS) technology, interoperable data standards and analysis. This allows the system to provide location-enabled decision support capabilities to local fire departments nationwide. As NERIS develops, data from multiple federal data sets, local computer-aided dispatch, local records management systems and other authoritative sources to inform community risks including vulnerable populations, climate hazards such as flood and drought-prone areas and wildland urban interface exposed areas.
The new NERIS platform will replace the legacy data system known as the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). The legacy NFIRS will remain operational throughout the transition process so all fire and emergency services departments should continue to use the current NFIRS data system and maintain status quo until onboarded onto the new platform. NERIS will fulfill the USFA's National Fire Data Center's obligation under the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-498) to mitigate the fire problem, reduce loss of life and property and educate the public on fire prevention and protection, as well as effects of all hazards.
NERIS is provided to local fire departments at no-cost, and development is being carried out as a partnership between USFA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and is supported by a contract awarded to the Fire Safety Research Institute. The institute is a part of UL Research Institutes, the nonprofit safety science organization within the UL enterprise.
For the latest information on NERIS development, visit National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS).
 On March 8, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) joined Hawaii Governor Josh Green, to announce the planned deployment of 80 wildfire sensors and 16 wind sensors across the Hawaiian Islands.
The wildfire detection sensors identify changes in conditions before wildfires start, providing 24-hour sensing and alerting capabilities. The sensors continuously transmit information and send an email or text notification to a pre-programmed contact when these components are detected. The system housing the sensors is small and compact, able to sit on a utility pole or a traffic light and can work in all weather conditions.
These efforts are part of the continued commitment to support long-term recovery efforts following the unprecedented wildfires on Maui, while advancing innovative solutions for extreme weather events driven by climate change.
Hawaii will be the first location to receive the new Beta wildfire sensors developed by DHS Science and Technology Directorate and USFA in coordination with small business N5 Sensors Inc.
Learn more about the steps the department has taken to promote wildfire preparedness and resilience at DHS.gov and about S&T’s work on wildfire sensor technology at DHS.gov/Science-And-Technology.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell met with Big City Emergency Managers (BCEM) leaders across the emergency management industry during the BCEM Spring Meeting 2024 in Seattle on March 6. During the meeting, the administrator’s discussions centered on the importance of continued partnership to identify gaps and build local capacity to ensure year-round resilience before, during and after disasters.
The BCEM Spring Meeting engages municipalities across the nation in discussing priorities, opportunities for enhanced collaboration throughout jurisdictions and resources to identify and manage risks, build partnerships and promote community resilience. FEMA is proud to partner with BCEM and its members in this critical mission. FEMA officials participate in events like the BCEM Spring Meeting to further integrate and amplify FEMA’s emergency management resources to help local officials prepare for, respond to and recover quickly from disasters while elevating resiliency in action.
 FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, Region 10 Regional Administrator Willie G. Nunn and Region 5 Regional Administrator Tom Sivak (not pictured) joined emergency management leaders from local governments across the country at the BCEM Spring Meeting 2024.
 With spring around the corner, FEMA is officially closing out the first-ever #WinterReady campaign. FEMA’s Ready campaign launched the #WinterReady initiative in November 2023 to address the unique risks and specific needs people may face during winter and prepare individuals and communities for winter weather hazards.
Throughout the campaign, FEMA worked to build local capacity and reach new audiences, including the #WinterReady webpage which was viewed more than 53,300 times. The campaign also conducted a tour across the Midwest to promote #WinterReady preparedness and fire safety to make a more resilient #WinterReady nation.
Highlights included:
Read the full #WinterReady wrap up on FEMA.gov: FEMA’s #WinterReady Preparedness Initiative Delivers on Promise to Build Local Capacity to Stay Safe from Extreme Cold
As we enter spring, we face new and changing hazards. Our FEMA staff and their pets want to remind you that these new hazards can be a challenge for furry members of your family and that it’s important to consider the animals under your care as you adjust your preparedness plans.
For tips on how to keep your pets safe during emergencies, check out the full FEMA blog brought to you by FEMA pets! Visit 8 FEMA Pets Share Preparedness Tips | FEMA.gov to learn more.
 FEMA Civil Engineer Victor Duspiva’s four boxers want you to make a plan with emergency supplies for your pets.
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FEMA Hosts Virtual Training on Public Assistance Grant Management System
FEMA is hosting an in-depth virtual training to provide information, guidance and answer questions on its official system of record for Public Assistance grant activities on its Grants Manager and Grants Portal. The training will be held virtually on Wednesday, March 20, from 12:30 – 4:30 p.m. ET. The training will help enhance user experience with the system as the agency replaces EMMIE with the more modern, transparent and accessible Grants Manager and Grants Portal systems.
Grants Portal Functionality with EMMIE Decommissioning Training
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Host: Public Assistance Training and Development Branch, SLTT Section
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When: Wednesday, March 20, from 12:30 – 4:30 p.m. ET.
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Where: Zoom https://fema.zoomgov.com/j/1610975089.
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Passcode: EMMIE
To access the webinar via mobile, use the following:
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Meeting ID: 161 097 5089
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Passcode: 711753
For more on the EMMIE Decommissioning, visit FEMA's EMMIE Transition FAQ Fact Sheet. Applicants and recipients can also email the Public Assistance Support Hotline at FEMA-Recovery-PA-Grants@fema.dhs.gov or call the hotline at 866-337-8448, which is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
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Attend FEMA Webinar on Mitigation Strategies for a More Resilient Recovery
The DHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and FEMA Individual Assistance Voluntary Agency Coordination Section will co-host a webinar, Making Recovery More Resilient – A Conversation on Mitigation, on Thursday, March 21, at 2 p.m. ET. To register for the webinar visit, FEMA's Zoom page.
This webinar will be focused on highlighting the recently released Guide to Expanding Mitigation, Making the Connection to Faith-Based Partners.
ASL and closed captioning will be provided.
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Nonprofit Security Grant Program Webinar Series
FEMA’s Grants Program Directorate invites interested organizations to attend upcoming webinars regarding the Nonprofit Security Grant Program. The program uses a competitive process to award grants for facility hardening and other security enhancements to nonprofit organizations at high risk of a terrorist or other extremist attack.
The last webinar of this series will be held on Friday, March 22, at 2 p.m. ET. Register at Webinar Registration - Zoom (zoomgov.com).
All interested organizations are required to register in advance for the webinars. Please note that the webinars will cover the same content and will not be recorded for future viewing.
If you have any questions regarding these webinars or require special accommodations, please contact FEMA-NSGP@fema.dhs.gov.
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Attend FEMA’s Webinar on Planning for Your Incident After-Action Review
FEMA's Continuous Improvement Technical Assistance Program will host a webinar on how to plan for data collection and analysis for real-world incident after-action reviews on Wednesday, March 27, from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. ET. This webinar will emphasize approaches for planning incident after-action reviews outlined in FEMA’s National Continuous Improvement Guidance.
During this webinar, FEMA will equip participants with a systematic approach to successfully collect and analyze data to inform real-world incident after-action review products. The webinar will also review resources focused on developing data collection and analysis plans that are available on the CITAP’s website on the FEMA Preparedness Toolkit.
To attend the webinar, register in advance by visiting the event page on FEMA.gov and clicking the "Register " button. If an issue arises while registering or logging in, email FEMA-CITAP@fema.dhs.gov.
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Review and Provide Feedback to Emergency Operations Center Skillsets by March 28
FEMA’s National Integration Center released updated National Incident Management System Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Skillsets for national engagement. Feedback is due no later than March 28, at 5 p.m. ET.
Regardless of structure, EOC personnel typically perform these common functions:
- Collect, analyze and share information.
- Support resource needs and requests, including allocation and tracking.
- Coordinate plans and determine current and future needs.
- In some cases, it provides strategic coordination and policy direction.
This update is based on best practices and lessons learned related to operations, assessing processes and transitioning, capabilities, infrastructure (technology), personnel and comprehensive training to support temporary or extended virtual EOC operations or replace the typical EOC model with a hybrid/virtual option.
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FEMA Integrated Public Assistance Forms Available for 60-Day Review
FEMA is requesting public review and comment on its updated Integrated Public Assistance Application forms. These forms standardize required information and documentation for the agency’s Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide. The updated forms are available for comment period, which closes April 1.
These documents reduce the administrative burden of collecting required information by 20%, which meets the Paperwork Reduction Act requirements. This integrated approach to collecting required information will reduce program complexities. The information provided in the initial forms facilitate early identification of an applicant’s critical needs and the type of customer support required to dynamically tailor federal resources to an applicant based on their specific circumstances and resulting needs.
FEMA published the notice for the revision of the forms in the Federal Register (Federal Register: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Public Assistance Program).
The IPA forms and comment matrix may be accessed at FEMA.gov.
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FEMA Co-Hosts 2024 Partnership Forum Highlighting Stories of Resilience
Registration is now open for the Resilient Nation Partnership Network 2024 Partnership Forum co-hosted with the Sundance Institute. The theme of this year's forum is, “Stories of Resilience: Voices that Inspire.”
Each session will feature diverse speakers discussing and inspiring community-led resilience. Sessions will take place online each Thursday in April (April 4, 11, 18, 25) from 1 – 3 p.m. ET.
Registration is open to all. To register and learn more, visit Resilient Nation Partnership Network | FEMA.gov.
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FEMA Seeks Comments on Simplified Homeowner Flood Insurance Form to Improve Customer Experience
FEMA is seeking public comments to improve the homeowner policyholder experience through a new proposed Homeowner Flood Form to simplify the National Flood Insurance Program's standard flood insurance policy. The proposed Homeowner Flood Form aims to provide homeowners with a more customizable and user-friendly experience with five new proposed endorsements, allowing policyholders to modify their coverage.
Comments can be submitted until April 8 on www.regulations.gov Docket ID: FEMA-2024-0004. Please follow the instructions on the page to submit comments and contact the Regulations.gov Help Desk if you encounter technical issues.
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FEMA Offers $360M in Grants to Boost Number of Trained Firefighters in Communities Nationwide
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell announced the opening of the application period for the Fiscal Year 2023 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, which offers $360 million in grants directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained firefighters protecting communities across the nation.
Building more resilient communities includes having sufficiently staffed fire departments. FEMA SAFER grant funding will be used to increase the number of firefighters to help communities meet industry minimum standards, attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate fire protection from fire and fire-related hazards and to fulfill traditional missions of fire departments. The SAFER application period will close on Friday, April 12, 2024, at 5 p.m. ET.
The FY 2023 SAFER Notice of Funding opportunity and technical assistance documents for this program are available at www.grants.gov and on the FEMA website. Additional information about upcoming webinars to assist applicants is also available on the FEMA website.
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FEMA Opens Application Period for $36M in Grants to Strengthen Community Resilience Through Fire Prevention Programs
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell announced the release of the funding notice and opening of the latest application period for the FY 2023 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grant program, which will award $36 million to strengthen community fire prevention programs and support scientific research on innovations that improve firefighter safety, health and well-being.
The FP&S Program has awarded approximately $852 million since its inception. To help keep communities and firefighters safer, FP&S funding is being made available directly to eligible fire departments, national, regional, state, local, tribal and non-profit organizations such as academic (e.g., universities), research foundations, public safety institutes, public health, occupational health and injury prevention institutions for fire prevention programs and firefighter health and safety research and development such as clinical studies that address behavioral, social science and cultural research. The application period will close on Friday, April 12, at 5 p.m. ET.
The FY 2023 FP&S Notice of Funding Opportunity and technical assistance documents for this program are available at www.grants.gov and on the FEMA website. Additional information about upcoming webinars to assist applicants is also available on the FEMA website.
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Biden-Harris Administration Announces $150 Million to Help Underserved Communities Fund Resilience Projects
FEMA announced the second funding opportunity for the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund grant program to make communities safer from natural hazards. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this program provides capitalization grants to eligible applicants nationwide. Applicants then offer low-interest loans directly to local communities to reduce their vulnerability to disasters, promote equity, foster greater community resilience and reduce disaster impacts.
The Safeguarding Tomorrow funding notice is available at Grants.gov. Eligible entities must apply for funding using the Non-Disaster Grants Management System. Applications must be received by Tuesday, April 30, at 3 p.m. ET.
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Application Period Open for Repetitive Flood Mitigation Funding
An additional $300 million in Swift Current funding is available to help property owners across the nation become more resilient to flooding. This funding opportunity is the second time that FEMA is using assets from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for Swift Current, part of the Flood Mitigation Assistance program. Swift Current makes homes safer and more resilient for National Flood Insurance Program policyholders with repetitively flooded properties. Buildings must be insured through the National Flood Insurance Program to be eligible.
FEMA will work with states and Tribal Nations to explore their participation during this cycle. Potential applicants who have questions may contact their FEMA regional office. The application period opened on Nov. 15, 2023, and the last eligible disaster declaration date is May 31, 2024. The funding opportunity is available on Grants.gov.
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