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Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas today announced more than $1.8 billion in funding for eight fiscal year 2024 preparedness grant programs. These grant programs provide critical funding to help state, local, tribal and territorial officials prepare for, prevent, protect against, and respond to acts of terrorism and disasters.
After extensive consultation with grantees leading up to this announcement, DHS is focused on the need to invest in high priority areas, build capacity in other communities, and give jurisdictions the flexibility to make prioritization decisions based on their own assessment of their needs. For FY 2024, Congress cut each of the preparedness grants by 10%, which resulted in commensurate cuts to each jurisdiction.
The law requires that at least 25% of the combined funds for the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) and the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) be dedicated to Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Activities (LETPA). This year, we are maintaining the LETPA minimum requirement of 35%. The Department’s law enforcement subject-matter experts engaged with FEMA experts to review and clarify policy and program decisions to ensure that law enforcement and terrorism-focused grant funds are appropriately used for terrorism prevention activities, thereby strengthening our national preparedness posture.
This year, we will provide $274.5 million in Nonprofit Security Grant Program funds to houses of worship, schools and other nonprofits to support target hardening and other physical security enhancements for nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack. The program will continue to help integrate nonprofit preparedness activities with broader state and local preparedness efforts. It will also promote collaboration in emergency preparedness activities among public and private community representatives, as well as state and local government agencies.
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 grant guidance will continue to focus on the nation’s highest risk areas, including urban areas that face the most significant threats. The Urban Area Security Initiative enhances regional preparedness by helping build and sustain capabilities responsive to the evolving threat environment. This year, the Urban Area Security Initiative will fund 41 high-threat, high-density urban areas, including an urban area that has not previously received funding.
DHS continues to emphasize six national priority areas in the FY 2024 grant cycle: cybersecurity; soft targets and crowded places; intelligence and information sharing; domestic violent extremism; community preparedness and resilience; and election security. Grant recipients under the State Homeland Security Program and Urban Area Security Initiative will be required to dedicate a minimum of 30% of their awards across these six priority areas. Of the 30%, there is a 3% minimum spend on election security, with flexibility on how to spend the remaining 27% across the six priority areas.
As with previous years, new capabilities that are built using homeland security grant funding must be deployable if needed to support regional and national efforts. All capabilities being built or sustained must have a clear linkage to the core capabilities articulated in the National Preparedness Goal.
FY 2024 Preparedness Grant Summary
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State Homeland Security Program
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$373.5 million
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Urban Area Security Initiative
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$553.5 million
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Intercity Passenger Rail
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$9 million
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Emergency Management Performance Grant
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$319.55 million
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Operation Stonegarden
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$81 million
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Tribal Homeland Security Program
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$13.5 million
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Nonprofit Security Grant Program
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$274.5 million
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Port Security Grant Program
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$90 million
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Transit Security Grant Program
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$83.7 million
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Intercity Bus Security Grant Program
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$1.8 million
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To learn more about the Preparedness Grant Program Allocations for Fiscal Year 2024, visit the full news release on FEMA.gov.
In coordination with FEMA and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), announced $300 million in grants through the Fiscal Year 2024 Shelter and Services Program (SSP), authorized by Congress to support communities that are providing services to migrants.
$275 million will be distributed in the first allocation and the remaining $25 million will be allocated later in the year to accommodate evolving operational requirements. The initial funding will be available to 55 grant recipients for temporary shelter and other eligible costs associated with migrants awaiting the outcome of their immigration proceedings. Additionally, the Department is announcing $340.9 million through the Shelter and Services Program-Competitive grant program to be allocated before the end of this fiscal year.
The announcement responds to recipient feedback regarding the competitive SSP program on its additional flexibility distributions and opportunities for new recipients dependent on budget submission requirements and the review process prior to releasing funds, a standard practice at FEMA. In addition, this grant opportunity builds on the support provided to communities on the border and in the interior.
In Fiscal Year 2023, SSP and the Emergency Food and Shelter Program Humanitarian Awards funded more than $780 million in grant awards to organizations and cities across the nation.
DHS also works to streamline and improve access to work permits for eligible noncitizens. This includes the recent announcement regarding the temporary final rule to increase the automatic extension period for certain employment authorization documents, preventing a lapse for work-authorized individuals to be in the workforce supporting local economies.
DHS efforts to manage and secure our borders in a safe, orderly and humane way include support for communities. This includes strengthened consequences for those without a lawful basis to remain and an expansion of lawful pathways that have helped reduce the number of encounters from specific populations.
From May 12, 2023, to April 3, 2024, DHS has removed or returned more than 660,000 individuals - a vast majority of migrants who crossed the Southwest Border - and more than 102,000 individual family members. Most of all individuals encountered at the Southwest Border over the past three years have been removed, returned or expelled. The total removals and returns since May 12, 2023, exceed removals and returns in every full fiscal year since 2011.
Due to the substantial demand that exceeds the limited SSP program funding authorized by Congress, not all requests can be fulfilled. DHS continues to call on Congress to pass the bipartisan border security agreement, which would partially provide an additional $1.4 billion in SSP funds and additional tools and resources requested to respond to the historic global migration.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell announced today that the agency is taking new applications for qualified individuals to lend their expertise and serve on FEMA’s National Advisory Council (NAC), a geographically diverse and substantive cross-section of 40 members who advise the FEMA administrator on all aspects of emergency management.
From coordinating with Tribal Nations, state, local and territorial governments, as well as the private and nonprofit sectors, appointed individuals will bring their knowledge, experiences and multi-faceted views to provide the administrator consensus recommendations on a broad range of issues, engage in fact finding, receive briefings, and discuss and develop draft recommendations for the council. The work of the council advances effective and efficient recovery strategies across the nation and helps to build local capacity to withstand tomorrow’s hazards.
Administrator Criswell will appoint 11 members who will begin serving on the council in December 2024. Selected council members will guide future recommendations on topics including climate resilience and agency readiness, which aligns with FEMA Strategic Plan and priorities directed by the administrator.
The agency is accepting applications for the following discipline-specific positions in 2024:
- Climate change.
- Communications.
- Elected government official.
- Emergency management.
- Emergency response provider.
- In-patient medical provider.
The administrator may appoint additional candidates to serve as FEMA administrator selections. For a description of each position, please refer to the National Advisory Council Charter. In 2023, the NAC expanded the number of positions and specialties on the council to include climate change and public health expertise. They also hosted a first-ever meeting on tribal land and the council continues to represent the populations FEMA serves.
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 serve on FEMA’s National Advisory Council, please follow the instructions listed in the Federal Register Notice and submit your application package no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on May 12. Per the Federal Advisory Committee Act, federal employees are ineligible to apply.
FEMA has announced 17 applicants that have been activated for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Swift Current funding opportunity, which aligns with FEMA's Year of Resilience theme to build local capacity to withstand tomorrow’s hazards. FEMA will distribute funding on a rolling basis as eligible applicants submit applications until the total available funding amount of $300 million is exhausted. For a list of the allocations, visit FEMA.gov.
Eligible applicants must meet the Swift Current activation criteria, which includes having a major disaster declaration for a flood-related disaster event beginning June 1, 2023, through May 31, 2024. A flood-related disaster event includes coastal storms, hurricanes, remnants of hurricanes and floods. Additional criteria may be found on FEMA.gov.
This funding opportunity is made available using funds from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Swift Current funds can make homes safer and more resilient for National Flood Insurance Program policyholders with repetitively and substantially flood-damaged buildings as soon as possible after a flood-related disaster event.
Examples of projects eligible for this funding include property acquisition and demolition, elevation and relocation. To be eligible, buildings must be insured through the National Flood Insurance Program.
The application period for this opportunity opened Nov. 15, 2023. All eligible applicants must submit their FY2023 Swift Current grant applications to FEMA through MT eGrants. Upon Swift Current activation, FEMA will provide the application deadline to the applicant.
The application deadlines are for the applicants only. Local governments should consult with their state, tribal or territorial agency to confirm deadlines to submit subapplications for their consideration.
FEMA will work with states, Tribal Nations and territories to explore their participation during this cycle. Potential applicants who have questions may contact their FEMA regional office, while interested subapplicants should contact their state or territory hazard mitigation officer.
 Pinellas County, Fla., Board of Commissioners accept a certificate from Administrator Deanne Criswell commemorating the county’s Class 2 Community Rating System (CRS) status in the National Flood Insurance Program.
On April 9, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell presented Pinellas County, Florida officials a plaque to commemorate their new flood insurance rating.
Pinellas County will now have a Community Rating System class 2 status with the National Flood Insurance Program, which will give policy holders a 40% discount on their flood insurance. There are more than 27,200 flood insurance policies in the county.
"This is what it looks like when a community invests in resilience and those investments pay off,” said Criswell. “Not only are the lives of Pinellas County residents improved upon, but the county is saving them money and creating a more-resilient community for them to call home. All of these investments serve as a down payment on a better future for all of us, especially as we continue to face more severe storms and hurricanes that are creating more catastrophic flooding events."
Across the country each year, $2.4 billion is saved through the National Flood Insurance Program’s floodplain management standards, which has totaled $100 billion in losses avoided in its history. Additionally, structures built to meet or exceed the program’s minimum floodplain management standards incur at least 65% less flood damage.
The class 2 rating became effective April 1. Under the insurance rating approach, nearly all policyholders within a participating community can see premium decreases from their community’s rating.
The Community Rating System provides a comprehensive set of 19 floodplain management activities, further divided into 100 individual elements, which communities can be recognized for implementing. Credit points are assigned to these elements. The credit point totals determine a community’s ranking which can be anywhere from a class 9 level, providing a 5% premium reduction, up to a class 1 level, providing a 45% premium reduction.
Pinellas County is now one of only 11 communities with a class 2 or higher ranking. Only two communities nationwide have a class 1 rating, including Roswell, California and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Nationwide there are approximately 1,500 Community Rating System communities, with more than 200 of them being in Florida.
FEMA is hosting its second virtual #SummerReady Extreme Heat Summit to raise awareness and provide critical information regarding wildfire impacts at 1 p.m. ET on Friday, April 26. This virtual summit will provide an opportunity for attendees to engage in informative discussions and receive helpful resources on the challenges, risks, rewards and real-life actionable steps to prevent and reduce the impacts of wildfires when they occur.
The virtual summit will include panelists from various federal agencies that will discuss wildfire resources, funding and best practices.
Register in advance for the #SummerReady Extreme Heat Summit on FEMA.gov
In recent years, wildfire season is beginning earlier and lasting longer. To address this issue, FEMA is hosting a virtual summit, Improving Individual and Community Wildfire Resilience, to help individuals and communities protect themselves against wildfire smoke risks and impacts from 2 - 3 p.m. ET on Monday, April 29.
FEMA Administrator Criswell will provide welcome remarks followed with roundtable discussions, moderated by FEMA Deputy Administrator for Resilience Victoria Salinas, with federal partners who will share wildfire resources, information on funding and best practices.
Register in advance for the virtual summit, Improving Individual and Community Wildfire Resilience on FEMA.gov.
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FEMA Hosts Webinar for 2024 National Financial Resiliency Month
In celebration of 2024 National Financial Resilience Month, FEMA’s Voluntary Agency Liaisons and the DHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships will host a webinar from 2 – 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 17, to underscore the critical role of private-public partnerships in building financial resilience before, during and after disasters.
Webinar Information:
- Topic: Financial Resilience Before, During and After Disasters
- Date: Wednesday, April 17
- Time: 2 – 3:30 p.m. ET
- Location: ZOOM | Virtual Platform
- Passcode: FEMAVAL
For questions, please contact FEMA-VAL@fema.dhs.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 from 1 – 3 p.m. ET each Thursday in April (April 18 and 25).
Registration is open to all. To register and learn more, visit Resilient Nation Partnership Network | FEMA.gov.
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FEMA Seeks Public Comments on its Updated Design and Construction Code Policy
FEMA is seeking public comments on its updated Consensus-Based Codes, Specifications and Standards Policy through April 26. Application of this policy will increase the resilience of communities impacted by presidentially declared disasters by requiring the use of hazard-resistant design criteria in the repair and restoration of disaster-damaged infrastructure.
FEMA’s landmark study, “Building Codes Save: A Nationwide Study,” illustrated that the use of modern building codes leads to major reductions in property loss from natural disasters. Since originally published in November 2019, the policy has supported resilient recovery by establishing minimum hazard-resistant design and construction criteria for facilities receiving Public Assistance funding.
The 30-day public comment period is open through April 26 and comments can be submitted in the following ways:
For more information, visit Public Assistance Consensus-Based Codes, Specifications and Standards Policy Update Public Comment Period on FEMA.gov
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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 on Grants.gov. Eligible entities must apply for funding using the Non-Disaster Grants Management System on the FEMA website. Applications must be received at 3 p.m. ET. by Tuesday, April 30.
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Funding Opportunities for the FEMA National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
On May 1, FEMA will post funding notices for two National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program grants for more than $3 million. The application period opens on May 1, and the funding notices will be on Grants.gov. Eligible applicants must apply for funding through the FEMA Grants Outcomes webpage, the agency’s grants management system. Submit applications in FEMA Grants Outcome Portal no later than 5 p.m. ET on Friday, June 14. Applications received by FEMA after this deadline will not be considered for funding.
The funding opportunities will also be available on the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program's State Assistance Program webpage where there are also technical assistance documents and additional information about upcoming webinars to assist applicants. On May 1, FEMA will hold a webinar with participating states and territories to discuss the grant program funding opportunity.
On Thursday, May 2, FEMA will hold a webinar for interested applicants to discuss the multi-state funding opportunity. On Tuesday, May 14, FEMA will hold an office hours webinar for all individual state applicants and interested multi-state applicants to answer questions about both funding opportunities. Interested applicants may register for the webinars on the grants workshop webpage.
Interested applicants should contact their earthquake program manager for more information. For more information, visit Earthquake Risk | FEMA.gov.
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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. 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 through the FEMA website, while interested subapplicants should contact their state or territory hazard mitigation officer through the FEMA website. All eligible applicants must submit their FY 2023 Swift Current grant applications to FEMA via the Mitigation eGrants webpage. Upon Swift Current activation, FEMA will provide the application deadline to the applicant.
The application period opened on Nov. 15, 2023, and the last eligible disaster declaration date is May 31. Full details are available on Grants.gov.
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