U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, announced the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded $73 million in federal funds to the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services. These funds will support North Dakota’s hazard mitigation projects under the agency’s Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant programs for Fiscal Year 2022.
Nearly $64 million of the federal funding will be distributed to two FMA projects in the Bismarck-Mandan area, providing protection from flooding impacts for more than 11,500 homes. Further, the City of Lincoln was selected for $7.8 million and the City of Fessenden for $2 million in BRIC grant funding to replace their wastewater systems.
More than 1,000 projects were submitted between states, local, and tribal governments from across the country for Fiscal Year 2022 FEMA program funding. Under these programs, communities can receive up to a 75% federal cost share to implement projects which will prevent damages from natural hazards.
“I appreciate FEMA’s willingness to listen to and work with North Dakotans,” said Senator Cramer. “Flooding and severe weather can impact so much of our state and these areas are no exception. This grant is an opportunity to implement flood mitigation improvements which will allow the community to protect hardworking residents and save taxpayers’ money in the long run.”
Background:
In April, the North Dakota delegation wrote a letter to FEMA asking for the cancelation or delayed implementation of its new Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for Bismarck. The delegation noted the proposed map would disproportionately impact low-income residents, particularly in the southern part of the city where the region’s primary homeless shelter and a permanent supportive housing facility are located. They also urged FEMA to give Bismarck time to complete its ongoing flood mitigation efforts before finalizing the map.
Source: Kevin Cramer
