Grants

The Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Program plays an important role in the implementation of the National Preparedness System by supporting the building, sustainment, and delivery of core capabilities essential to achieving the National Preparedness Goal (the Goal) of a secure and resilient Nation. The building, sustainment, and delivery of these core capabilities require the combined effort of the whole community, rather than the exclusive effort of any single organization or level of government.  The EMPG Program’s allowable costs support efforts to build and sustain core capabilities across the Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery mission areas.

The purpose of the EMPG Program is to provide Federal grants to states to assist state, local, territorial, and tribal governments in preparing for all hazards, as authorized by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the Stafford Act), as amended (42 U.S.C. §§ 5121 et seq.) and Section 662 of the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, as amended (6 U.S.C. § 762). Title VI of the Stafford Act authorizes FEMA to make grants for the purpose of providing a system of emergency preparedness for the protection of life and property in the United States from hazards and to vest responsibility for emergency preparedness jointly in the Federal government and the states and their political subdivisions.  The Federal government, through the EMPG Program, provides necessary direction, coordination, and guidance, and provides necessary assistance, as authorized in this title, to support a comprehensive all hazards emergency preparedness system.

The Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) plays an important role in the implementation of the National Preparedness System by supporting the building, sustainment, and delivery of core capabilities essential to achieving the National Preparedness Goal (the Goal) of a secure and resilient Nation.  The building, sustainment, and delivery of these core capabilities require the combined effort of the whole community, rather than the exclusive effort of any single organization or level of government.  The HSGP supports efforts to build and sustain core capabilities across the five mission areas of Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery based on allowable costs.

The State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) assists state, tribal and local preparedness activities that address high-priority preparedness gaps across all core capabilities and mission areas where a nexus to terrorism exists.  SHSP supports the implementation of risk driven, capabilities-based approaches to address capability targets set in urban area, state, and regional Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (THIRAs).  The capability targets are established during the THIRA process, and assessed in the State Preparedness Report (SPR) and inform planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise needs to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other catastrophic events.

The BRIC program guiding principles are supporting communities through capability - and capacity-building; encouraging and enabling innovation; promoting partnerships; enabling large projects; maintaining flexibility; and providing consistency. It provides an opportunity to implement mitigation prior to a disaster. BRIC is an annual, nationally competitive program and funding is based on the previous year's nationwide disaster expenses.

The purpose of the FMA grant program is to assist states, local and tribal governments reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to buildings, manufactured homes, and other structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The FMA Program is awarded annually (based on the Federal budget) and projects are reviewed and awarded at the national level.

HMGP provides grants to states, local and tribal governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration. The purpose of HMGP is to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and to enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster.

HMGP funds become available after most Federally-declared disasters, and are competitively awarded within the declared State. Preference is given to jurisdictions within the impacted areas; however, this does not exclude jurisdictions elsewhere in the State from applying.

The HMGP Post Fire grant program is available after a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) declaration, within the state, has been made. Grant priority is given to fire projects within the affected counties. However, states, federally-recognized tribes and territories affected by fires resulting in an FMAG declaration on or after October 5, 2018, are eligible to apply.

Established in 1990 by the Hazardous Materials Transportation Uniform Safety Act, the HMEP grant program helps States, Territories, and Native American Tribes develop and improve emergency plans under the National Response System and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act of 1986. Managed by PHMSA since 1993, the program supports tailored training and planning to address local needs, factoring in demographics, emergency response capabilities, and hazard assessments. Training guidelines align with NFPA 472 standards and OSHA's 29 CFR § 1910.120. Local governors or equivalent authorities designate agencies to apply for HMEP funds annually. PHMSA reviews these applications to ensure alignment with hazmat safety goals, issuing Notices of Grant Award to successful applicants. These agencies then allocate funds to Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) and first responders, supporting hazmat safety and preparedness activities.