Alejandro Mayorkas United States Secretary of Homeland Security | Official Website
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas, and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell announced the selection of 656 projects for $1 billion in climate resilience funding under the Investing in America agenda. The funding aims to help state, Tribal, local, and territorial governments address risks from natural disasters such as extreme heat, wildfires, droughts, hurricanes, earthquakes, and increased flooding.
"Every American community faces risks from extreme weather," said Secretary Mayorkas. "Investing in preparedness and resilience today can help keep our country safe tomorrow."
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell emphasized the importance of these funds: “Thanks to extra funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, FEMA is now better situated to help communities invest in resilience.”
The initiative aligns with FEMA's 2024 Year of Resilience theme and President Biden’s National Climate Resilience Framework. The framework promotes locally tailored strategies for climate resilience.
Of the $674 million allocated through national competition selections, over half will use nature-based solutions to combat climate change. An additional $208 million will support building code activities and Tribal Nations.
Some notable projects include:
- Eastwick Near-Term Flood Barrier Project in Philadelphia.
- Shaded bus shelters in Washington D.C.
- East Elmhurst Cloudburst project in New York City.
- Magalia Dam retrofit project in Paradise, California.
- Slaughterhouse Creek Flood Mitigation project in Montana.
- Rand Flooding Storm Sewer Improvements project in West Virginia.
- Southern Crisfield Flood Mitigation project in Maryland.
- Roadway flood protection improvements in Decatur, Georgia.
- Big Ditch stream corridor flood resilience enhancements in Goldsboro, North Carolina.
FEMA also announced non-financial direct technical assistance for 93 Tribes, local communities, and territories across all ten FEMA regions to build community-wide resilience through the BRIC program.
Among the 656 projects funded this year are those aimed at mitigating extreme heat impacts with a total allocation of nearly $13 million. Additionally, $587 million is directed towards Justice40 communities overburdened by pollution and marginalized by underinvestment. This aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration's Justice40 Initiative goal to deliver 40% of funding to these communities.
For more details on selected projects and assistance programs visit FEMA.gov.
