|
On Oct. 21, FEMA announced more than $896 million in federal funding for more than 620 projects and assistance programs that will help communities recover from past disasters, reduce future risk and strengthen critical infrastructure nationwide.
Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, FEMA continues to focus federal disaster resources on projects and programs that protect lives, safeguard property and deliver accountable results for the American people.
The funding comes from several FEMA programs that help communities and disaster survivors recover and prepare for future disasters. These programs support state, local, tribal and territorial governments, eligible private nonprofits and individuals affected by disasters by funding projects that reduce risk to make communities safer and stronger.
Public Assistance
The largest share of this funding supports more than 530 Public Assistance projects for state, territorial and local governments and eligible private nonprofits across the country. These awards help communities repair damaged facilities, restore essential services and cover eligible costs tied to prior disasters.
This latest round of Public Assistance funding will support work such as debris removal, emergency protective measures, fire suppression activities, road and bridge repairs, utility restoration, public building repairs, parks and recreational facility repairs and management costs associated with eligible disaster recovery work.
Disaster Case Management and Crisis Counseling
This announcement also includes funding for Disaster Case Management and Crisis Counseling programs through FEMA’s Individual Assistance program to the state of South Carolina following Hurricane Helene; the state of Arizona following severe storms and flooding; and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, following Super Typhoon Sinlaku.
This assistance is part of FEMA’s mission to support individuals and households after disasters while ensuring assistance is delivered consistently and in accordance with federal law and program requirements.
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
FEMA is also supporting more than 75 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program projects, representing over $90 million in funds that will help communities reduce long-term risk from future disasters.
These awards fund a wide range of mitigation activities, including flood-prone property acquisitions, structure elevations, mitigation reconstruction, drainage and stormwater improvements, generators and emergency power systems, safe rooms, warning systems, wildfire risk reduction, utility and infrastructure upgrades and hazard mitigation planning.
Projects span communities across the country, including Arkansas, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities
FEMA is awarding more than $2.7 million in funding for several Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) projects in Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.
BRIC projects advance community resilience through project scoping, engineering and design for transportation planning, water infrastructure improvements, hospital protection and tsunami and earthquake preparedness.
By investing in mitigation before the next disaster, BRIC helps communities reduce future losses, protect critical facilities, support safer construction and lower the long-term cost of disasters.
Strengthening Recovery Nationwide
With all four programs, FEMA funding will support locally led, state managed and federally supported recovery and resilience work across the country. The awards reflect the agency’s commitment to helping communities rebuild, strengthen infrastructure and prepare for future hazards while maintaining accountability for federal disaster spending.
On Oct. 22, FEMA announced a $400 million funding opportunity to empower American communities to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures. The funding can assist communities to better prepare for floods, the nation’s most common and costly natural disaster.
The Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program is one of several FEMA hazard mitigation programs. This program empowers state, local, tribal and territorial governments to take proactive steps to protect their communities and reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive damage to buildings and structures insured through the National Flood Insurance Program.
Eligible applicants include states, territories, federally recognized tribal nations and the District of Columbia. Properties must be insured through the National Flood Insurance Program to be eligible for funding.
Eligible projects for funding include building acquisitions and elevations. Other eligible activities include community-wide projects such as drainage improvements and soil stabilization to eliminate or reduce flooding impacts.
FEMA will host an application assistance webinar from 2-3:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 4. To register, visit the FEMA event webpage.
The application period is open through Feb. 26, 2027. View the opportunity on Grants.gov.
Visit FEMA’s Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program webpage for more information.
It is now easier than ever to prepare for the devastating financial consequences of flooding.
FEMA has launched a new self-service online purchase tool that allows eligible residents to get a quote and purchase a National Flood Insurance Program policy completely online through Floodsmart.gov. The tool is available nationwide for anyone living in one of the 22,700 participating National Flood Insurance Program communities.
To get a flood insurance quote, provide basic information about your building on Floodsmart.gov. Once you receive your quote, you will have the option to:
- Purchase a policy online through Floodsmart.gov in just a few minutes.
- Work with a local or national insurance company by sharing your quote details with your insurance agent.
- Find an insurance agent in your state through Floodsmart.gov, which offers contact information for three licensed insurance agents in your state.
This development aligns with President Donald J. Trump’s America First Resilience Strategy, which outlines a risk-informed approach to resilience and empowers the American people to protect themselves and their property. FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program’s new self-service online purchase tool is consistent with the insurance industry’s shift toward digital engagement, reducing barriers and making flood insurance more accessible to people nationwide.
Individuals are the first line of resilience and represent the nation’s greatest strategic advantage. By making it easier for Americans to purchase flood insurance, FEMA is empowering people to strengthen their resilience and reduce dependence on federal assistance.
Floods are the most common and costliest natural disaster in the United States. Flood insurance provides financial protection against the unexpected to support Americans in being better prepared, self-sufficient and confident in their ability to safeguard their future. FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program provides about $1.2 trillion in coverage for approximately 4.4 million policyholders nationwide.
To learn more about flood insurance, get a quote and purchase a policy, visit Floodsmart.gov/Policy-Quote.
|
 The Department of Homeland Security Center for Countering Human Trafficking invites law enforcement, emergency response, public safety and related professionals, and the public to attend the 2026 coercion webinar, “Beyond Physical Force: Understanding Coercion Through Lived Experience.”
This webinar brings the realities of coercion to life through the voices of three people with lived experience who will share firsthand of how traffickers manipulated, controlled and coerced their victims. This webinar emphasizes the importance of survivor perspectives in understanding the complexities of coercion and provides actionable insights to support prevention, identification and intervention.
Register for this webinar to build awareness, strengthen response efforts and help advance the fight against human trafficking.
Participants will learn how to:
- Identify signs of coercion in potential trafficking situations.
- Recognize signs of manipulation, psychological control, isolation and other tactics traffickers use to exploit victims.
- Apply survivor-informed insights to strengthen prevention and intervention efforts.
- Better understand coercive patterns and behaviors through real-world experiences.
- Respond with greater empathy, awareness and care when supporting potential human trafficking victims.
Webinar Details:
The webinar will not be recorded. A Microsoft Teams webinar link will be emailed to you 48 hours before the webinar.
Microsoft Teams Access Notice: Participants may experience technical issues when joining from a mobile device. Before the webinar, download and update the Microsoft Teams app. For the best experience, join from a desktop or laptop.
For questions or additional information, email pande@ccht.dhs.gov.
FEMA Offers Webinars to Help Public Assistance Recipients Navigate Updated Reporting Requirements
FEMA will host webinars in October and November to guide Public Assistance recipients and subrecipients as they prepare for new quarterly reporting requirements that will begin in January 2027.
The 90-minute webinars are intended to prepare state, local, tribal and territorial partners, including Public Assistance recipients and subrecipients, during this transition. By attending the webinars, participants will learn about the new reporting requirements and how to submit reports through the Grants Portal. Webinar participants do not need to pre-register to join.
Join one of the webinar sessions below:
....................................................................................................................................................
Vanguard Crisis Leaders Fellowship Application Deadline Extended to October 31
The application deadline for FEMA’s 2027 Vanguard Executive Crisis Leaders Fellowship has been extended to Saturday, Oct. 31.
Senior executives and experienced crisis leaders are invited to apply for the two-week, senior-level leadership program offered by FEMA’s National Disaster and Emergency Management University. The fellowship supports leaders from government, academia, nongovernmental, philanthropic and private-sector organizations in strengthening the skills needed to lead through complex, uncertain and rapidly changing crises.
Applicants must submit their application by Oct. 31 to be considered for the 2027 Vanguard cohorts. After application review by the selection board, selectees will be notified by Nov. 30.
For more information and application instructions, visit the Vanguard Executive Crisis Leaders Fellowship webpage.
....................................................................................................................................................
Apply for the Fiscal Year 2027 Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems Grant Program by November 16
On Oct. 16, FEMA made $250 million available to states and territories through a new Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Grant Program funding opportunity. This funding will empower state and territorial governments to enhance their capabilities to aggressively combat the unlawful use of unmanned aircraft systems, also known as drones.
This Fiscal Year 2027 funding opportunity is published on Grants.gov. This is a noncompetitive grant program. State Administrative Agencies are the only eligible applicants for this funding opportunity. All applications must be submitted in FEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO), the grants management system of record. The application period opened on Oct. 16 and will close on Nov. 16.
....................................................................................................................................................
FEMA and the Federal Communications Commission Schedule Nationwide 2026 Emergency Alert System Test for November 17
FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET, Tuesday, Nov. 17. Through this test, FEMA will assess how participating broadcasters and other communications providers receive and relay a national test message to the public.
FEMA is required by law to conduct a nationwide test of the public alert and warning system at least once every three years. These tests evaluate the operational readiness and effectiveness of external Emergency Alert System participants and the infrastructure they use to relay national emergency messages to the public. Emergency Alert System participants include thousands of radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers and wireline video providers.
The test message will state, “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 2:20 to 2:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.” The test message may be delivered as audio, on-screen text or both, depending on the provider. After the test concludes, normal programming will resume.
....................................................................................................................................................
|
