FEMA. Mitigation Minute for June 27, 2024. BRIC Direct Technical Assistance Helps Alaskan Tribe Develop Hazard Mitigation Plan, Enables New Tsunami Shelter Project. Top image shows the Native Village of Ouzinkie, Alaska. Before the Native Village of Ouzinkie, Alaska could use the $2 million direct congressional spending grant they were awarded to build a tsunami shelter, they needed to have an approved hazard mitigation plan. So, they turned to FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Direct Technical Assistance (BRIC DTA). The village is a federally recognized tribe with about 100 residents. It is on Spruce Island--to the north of Kodiak Island—and is only accessible by air or water. Image shows very devastating damage that was done when a tsunami struck Ouzinkie in 1964. The village has a history of tsunamis and has been trying to build a shelter to keep its residents safe. An image depicts the modern-day potential inundation area for the village, which would cover many of its most important buildings. Tammy Jones, a grants administrator for the village, said after they were awarded the $2 million grant but couldn’t build the shelter without the hazard mitigation plan, “The relentless pursuit of FEMA led us to apply to [BRIC] DTA.” Then, in May 2024, she attended a meeting hosted by FEMA Region 10 to discuss how Tribal Nations can leverage BRIC DTA. The village applied and was then selected to receive BRIC DTA nonfinancial support from August 2022 to August 2025. After seven months of receiving FEMA’s help with conceptualizing their tsunami shelter project and getting non-financial holistic hazard mitigation planning and project support, they had an approved hazard mitigation plan. Ms. Jones said, “We’ve had an incredible journey and success with FEMA through the DTA program. Now the shelter funding will allow our village to move critical infrastructure above the inundation zone.” Good to know! There are currently 74 communities and tribes receiving support from BRIC DTA. Read more. Watch this video to learn more about the story of the Native Village of Ouzinkie’s tsunami shelter project. Learn more about how BRIC DTA helps communities and tribes reduce disaster damage, build community resilience, and sustain successful mitigation programs. The images and the video are courtesy of FEMA Region 10.