Loss of FEMA Program Spells Disaster for Hundreds of Communities and Their Projects
The textile mills that once served as the backbone of Mount Pleasant, North Carolina, have long been shuttered. Town officials believed that federal funding would be vital for rejuvenating their community. An enhanced stormwater drainage system and secured electrical wires, funded through a program designed to assist communities in safeguarding against natural disasters and climate change, were envisioned as investments to stimulate the economy. The hope was that this funding would attract new businesses, such as a renovated historic theater, to breathe life back into the largely rural town.
Mount Pleasant was on the cusp of receiving $4 million when the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) made the decision to eliminate the program. This sudden move left their strategic plans, years in the making, as well as those of hundreds of other communities nationwide, in jeopardy.
Erin Burris, assistant town manager for Mount Pleasant, lamented, “This is a generational set of infrastructure projects that would set us up for the next hundred years and it just disappeared overnight.”
FEMA’s removal of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program revoked upwards of $3.6 billion in funding earmarked for towns like Mount Pleasant. The cancellation of this pivotal initiative blindsided local officials who had committed significant resources to developing these projects.
While FEMA labeled the BRIC grants as “wasteful” and “politicized,” local officials and residents held that they were a necessary use of government resources to protect lives, infrastructure, and the local economy. Planned investments included fortifying electrical poles against hurricane-force winds in Louisiana, relocating residents from flood-prone areas in Pennsylvania, and safeguarding water supply lines in Oklahoma’s Tornado Alley.
Disasters impact a significant majority of Americans, with 95% of the population residing in counties that have experienced federally declared weather disasters since 2011, highlighting the importance of proactive measures.
Officials Call FEMA’s Program Imperfect but Important
Across multiple states, officials noted that the BRIC program, while not without flaws, provided critical funding. Their frustrations often stemmed from prolonged waits for approved funds. However, Lafourche Parish in southeastern Louisiana exemplifies how BRIC’s initiatives could have greatly benefited communities. The hurricane-ravaged state receives substantial federal disaster assistance, highlighting the importance of continued investment in disaster preparedness.
Lafourche Parish, slated to receive over $20 million from several grants, planned to replace wooden electrical poles with more resilient steel ones and implement measures to mitigate the escalating costs of home insurance. Parish President Archie Chaisson emphasized the vital role these projects play in strengthening communities, regardless of political affiliation. Research supports these efforts, indicating that for every dollar invested in disaster preparedness, $13 is saved in economic impacts and cleanup costs.
Some States Fight to Restore Funds
In response to the program’s cancellation, twenty-two states and the District of Columbia have launched legal action to demand the release of obligated funding, including FEMA grants. The lawsuit draws attention to communities such as Grants Pass in Oregon, where BRIC funding for essential projects like a $50 million water treatment facility has stalled. In Stillwater, Oklahoma, without federal support, the cost of maintaining crucial infrastructure will fall on residents, significantly increasing their expenses.
U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr., representing northeast Pennsylvania, is among those advocating for the reinstatement of the BRIC program, underscoring the importance of federal coordination in disaster relief efforts.
Some Towns Fear Their Needs Will Be Forgotten
In Mount Pleasant, Whit Moose, a local business owner, expressed concern that many residents are unaware of the lost funding’s impact, even though their businesses stood to gain from the improvements. The perception in the town seems to be that government downsizing targets bureaucracy and redundancy.
Erin Burris remains apprehensive about potential flooding in downtown. A particular utility pole, dubbed Atlas, stands as a symbol of the precarious situation, supporting critical infrastructure for the town’s 1,700 people.
“Mount Pleasant is a special community, deserving of support,” Burris shared emotionally. Yet, the political implications of such decisions remain puzzling for this small town seeking assistance in mitigating stormwater flooding.
The cancellation of the BRIC program leaves many communities vulnerable and forces them to reassess their strategies for adapting to and recovering from natural disasters. With local leaders and residents rallying for the reinstatement of necessary funding, the future of many such projects hangs in uncertainty.
