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FEMA Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMATs) and Federal Coordination Officers are sharpening the skills and coordination necessary to support disaster operations before, during and after emergencies.
Over the past several months, more than 270 Regional and National IMAT personnel and 18 Federal Coordination Officers participated in the Incident Management III and Incident Management II courses at the FEMA Incident Workforce Academy in Anniston, Alabama. The training series focused on strengthening operational coordination, decision-making, teamwork and field leadership capabilities in support of FEMA’s mission.
The courses are part of a broader effort to strengthen national readiness. FEMA’s Incident Management Assistance Team Program Division, part of the Field Leadership Directorate, led the effort in collaboration with the FEMA Incident Workforce Academy within the Field Operational Directorate. The trainings directly support FEMA’s ability to rapidly deploy skilled personnel capable of coordinating disaster response and recovery operations in the U.S. and its territories.
The incident management courses focused on improving collaboration across command and general staff functions. The courses challenged teams to evaluate operational priorities, analyze incident objectives and develop coordinated courses of action within compressed timelines in complex disaster environments. Personnel participated in realistic scenarios designed to simulate the rapidly evolving conditions during large-scale incidents.
IMATs serve as FEMA’s rapid response teams during disasters and emergencies. These teams coordinate with federal, state, local, tribal and territorial partners to support lifesaving and life-sustaining operations and incident stabilization; and set the stage to transition from response to recovery. IMATs respond to some of the nation’s most complex incidents, including hurricanes, wildfires, severe storms, public health emergencies and other federally declared disasters.
The courses reinforced FEMA’s commitment to proactive readiness and continuous improvement. By investing in advanced incident management trainings before disasters occur, FEMA strengthens its ability to provide timely, coordinated and effective support to survivors and impacted communities when disasters strike.
On May 22, FEMA announced the approval of $175 million in post-disaster funding for Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program projects across the U.S. These programs empower states, local communities, tribes and territories to recover and rebuild more resilient, safer communities and protect infrastructure from future events. With this funding, President Donald J. Trump is keeping his promise to reform federal disaster support and ensure that taxpayer money is spent only on projects that deliver safety and security to the American people.
The funding includes $157 million under FEMA’s Public Assistance program awarded across 41 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Recipients will use this funding for more than 400 recovery projects related to previous disasters, including 240 COVID-19 projects for more than $91 million. In alignment with President Trump’s executive order establishing the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, FEMA conducted thorough reviews of all claimed costs for COVID-19 Public Assistance funds to prevent any fraud, waste and abuse.
FEMA disburses this money to states, local, tribal and territorial communities because they are best positioned to know how these funds will be most effectively spent. The funded projects include repairs to critical infrastructure, restoration of public buildings, road repairs and reimbursement for costs incurred to ensure public health and safety after a disaster.
In addition, FEMA is awarding more than $17 million for projects in 15 states and territories that will prevent, eliminate or reduce future disaster-related damage. This money is being distributed through FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Through this program, state, local, tribal or territorial governments take proactive mitigation measures, such as acquiring hazard-prone homes and businesses, adopting and enforcing building codes and standards, protecting against floods through elevations and drainage improvement projects, building safe rooms and upgrading utilities and infrastructure.
These projects are the latest examples of billions of dollars in disaster recovery provided by FEMA to support state and local communities as they work to rebuild from recent natural disasters.
FEMA continues its renewed commitment to help communities recover from disasters like hurricanes, severe storms, tornadoes and wildfires while making them more resilient from future disasters.
Refer to the full announcement at: FEMA Approves Nearly $175 Million to Help Communities Recover from Recent Disasters
FEMA recently published two new toolkits to help spread public safety messaging for FIFA World Cup 2026™, which is expected to attract more than 5 million international visitors and generate tens of billions of dollars in economic activity over 38 days.
For more than a year, FEMA has been working closely with its partners across the country to keep players, fans and host city residents safe during the events. The toolkits are key resources that anyone can use to share specific, actionable public safety tips. They include key preparedness messaging and sample text for use in social media posts, as well as graphics to increase engagement.
- The FIFA World Cup 2026™ Stakeholder Toolkit is intended for local emergency managers, fire or police departments, city officials and faith leaders. Community leaders of all types can use this toolkit to encourage people to stay safe by following these simple steps.
- The FIFA World Cup 2026™ Safety Messaging Toolkit for Businesses is intended for private-sector companies across industries. This toolkit includes an overview on business continuity, crisis communications, emergency response and information technology resources.
Both toolkits emphasize five key steps that can help keep you safe during a large event:
- Have an emergency plan.
- Follow local guidance during an emergency.
- Know how to get emergency notifications.
- Stay hydrated and prepare for weather.
- Be aware of your surroundings.
To learn more ways to stay safe during matches and events, and to download the toolkits, visit Ready.gov | FIFA World Cup 2026™.
With the application period open for the Fiscal Year 2024 Flood Mitigation Assistance funding opportunity, FEMA is hosting a webinar for eligible applicants. Up to $600 million is available to states, local communities, tribes and territories to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings insured under the National Flood Insurance Program.
This webinar will focus on recent changes to this funding opportunity and how to apply. This session is designed for prospective applicants and subapplicants, including state, local, tribal and territorial governments, partners and other stakeholders. Topics will include:
- An overview of the amended Fiscal Year 2024 funding opportunity.
- Eligibility requirements and Flood Mitigation Assistance program priorities.
- Guidance on submitting high-quality applications.
- A question-and-answer session.
Register for the webinar:
The webinar will be recorded and published on FEMA’s website at a later date.
The application deadline for this funding opportunity is Thursday, August 6, at 3 p.m. ET. States, territories and tribal nations may have an earlier deadline for subapplications. All applications must be submitted using FEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO).
The full funding opportunity is available on Grants.gov.
If you have questions or require webinar accessibility accommodations, please email FEMA-HMAComms@fema.dhs.gov.
After a 76-day lapse in appropriations, FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness, National Disaster & Emergency Management University and the National Fire Academy are resuming training and engagement for emergency management professionals across the country.
This year, the United States will host the FIFA World Cup 2026™, the largest and most-complex sporting event in the world, while also commemorating its 250th birthday with the Freedom 250 celebration. FEMA is committed to empowering state, local, tribal and territorial partners with world-class training. Our goal is to equip emergency managers to lead, protect and prepare their communities for every challenge ahead.
Previously scheduled meetings, workshops and events will proceed unless you are notified otherwise. FEMA will reschedule postponed engagements as necessary.
Students ready for instructor-led, in-person training can enroll in available courses, with sessions expected to begin soon.
For updates and registration details, please visit the schoolhouse websites below:
FEMA is proud to support America’s emergency management workforce as we rise to meet today’s challenges and seize tomorrow’s opportunities.
Submit Comments on the FEMA Review Council Recommendation Report by June 8
On May 7, the FEMA Review Council approved its final report. The recommendations result from approximately a year of meetings, deliberations and public input. They focus on empowering state, local, tribal and territorial governments to assume control over their disaster management and recovery efforts.
The FEMA Review Council members, appointed by President Donald J. Trump, conducted a thorough review of FEMA. Comprised of top disaster response experts, including individuals from states ravaged by recent natural disasters, the Council provided actionable recommendations to streamline federal response to national emergencies. The report and all Council documents are available at DHS.gov/FEMA-Review-Council.
The report provides recommendations to the President. The public can submit comments on the report until Monday, June 8, on the Federal Register website: Federal Register: Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council; Notice of Meeting.
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Apply for FEMA's FY24-25 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grants by July 23
FEMA is currently accepting applications for the Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) funding opportunity. Through this program, FEMA is making $1 billion in federal funding available to state, local, tribal and territorial governments, empowering them to take decisive, proactive steps to protect their communities from disasters like fires, floods, earthquakes and hurricanes.
FEMA held two national webinars to provide an overview of the funding opportunity. These sessions covered eligibility requirements and application guidance for states, local communities, tribal and territorial governments.
Watch the Fiscal Year 2024 and 2025 BRIC webinars at the links below:
The deadline to submit applications is Thursday, July 23.
Interested applicants and subapplicants may review the Notice of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. For a summary of the Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025 funding opportunity, refer to this fact sheet.
For more information on the BRIC program, applicants should contact their FEMA Regional Office or visit the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities webpage.
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