Summary:

The purpose of this program is to mitigate earthquake losses in the United States through basic and directed research and implementation activities in the fields of earthquake science and engineering. Funding will support states and territories that have been determined to be at a high to very high risk of earthquakes. This program prioritizes reducing the risks to life and property from future earthquakes in the United States through the establishment and maintenance of an effective earthquake hazards reduction program.

The goals of this program are to:

• Advance the understanding of earthquake processes and their consequences
• Enhance existing and develop new information, tools, and practices for protecting the nation from earthquake consequences
• Promote the dissemination of knowledge and implementation of tools, practices, and policies that enhance strategies to withstand, respond to, and recover from earthquakes
• Learn from post-earthquake investigations to enhance the effectiveness of available information, tools, practices, and policies to improve earthquake resilience

The priorities of this program are to:

• Work with model building codes and national consensus standards to promote implementation of research results
• Develop and maintain seismic-resistant design and construction guidance and tools, including books, software, and training, for new and existing structures, including performance-based seismic design guidelines
• Provide implementation and outreach through awareness campaigns, media, articles, and other initiatives
• Support multistate groups
• Support state earthquake programs
• Provide disaster support in accordance with the funding agency's Disaster Response Framework, Earthquake Incident Annex, and other applicable policies
• Support standards for critical lifelines infrastructure

Eligible activities include:

• Supporting seismic mitigation planning: funds may be used to develop, update, or enhance seismic components of the mitigation planning process
• Developing inventories and conducting seismic safety inspections of critical structures and lifeline infrastructure: funds may be used to plan, execute, and manage property inventories and conduct seismic safety inspections of critical structures and lifeline infrastructure, including residential housing
• Updating building codes, zoning codes, and ordinances to enhance seismic safety: funds may be used to plan, develop, update, adopt, and communicate local building codes, zoning codes, and other community development ordinances to enhance seismic safety
• Increasing earthquake awareness and education: funds may be used to plan, develop, and implement local earthquake awareness and education activities that assist the public in preparing for, mitigating against, responding to, and recovering from earthquakes
• Participating in emergency management exercises that substantially benefit earthquake mitigation efforts: funds may be used for emergency management exercises that can provide opportunities to build partnerships and demonstrate the value of incorporating earthquake mitigation into comprehensive pre- and post-disaster emergency management planning
• Promoting earthquake insurance: funds may be used for education, awareness, and outreach activities that promote the purchase of earthquake insurance by property owners
• Assistance to multistate groups: funds may be used to provide assistance to multistate groups for the purpose of supporting eligible activities

Eligible costs may include planning-related costs, personnel costs, training-related costs, exercise-related costs, and domestic travel costs.

An optional webinar is scheduled for this program. Refer to the Application section for details.

Eligibility is limited to states in FEMA Region 5 that have been determined to be at a high to very high risk of earthquakes according to the funding agency's FY 2023 State Assistance Target Allocation Plan, which includes Illinois and Indiana.

Program information detailed throughout this module was prepared using information from a previous fiscal year, as well as the preliminary program announcement, and should be used for reference purposes only. eCivis Grants Network will be updated with additional information upon the availability of the full program announcement, anticipated for release by May 1, 2024.

Last Updated: April 19, 2024