Summary:

The purpose of this program is to build state and local capacity to manage catastrophic incidents by improving and expanding regional collaboration across the whole community. For the purposes of this program, a catastrophic incident is defined as any natural or man-made incident, including terrorism, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption affecting the population, infrastructure, environment, economy, national morale, or government functions. Supported projects must  be regional and benefit multistate or intrastate regions and be replicable and sustainable.

In support of the funding agency's 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, equity, climate resilience, readiness, and housing are the strategic priorities of this program. When developing their project proposals, applicants should consider how the proposed project can address these priorities and produce meaningful results, using the StrategicPlan file as a guide.

Applicants must develop and deliver one planning project that addresses specific capability gaps based on Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA)/Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR) results and focuses on the following core capabilities, with an emphasis on disadvantaged communities, within one or more of the strategic priorities:

• Community resilience: The purpose of this core capability is to enable the recognition, understanding, communication of, and planning for risk and empower individuals and communities to make informed risk management decisions necessary to adapt to, withstand, and quickly recover from future incidents. The specific objectives of this core capability are to maximize the coverage of the U.S. population that has a localized, risk-informed mitigation plan developed through partnerships across the entire community; and empower individuals and communities to make informed decisions to facilitate actions necessary to adapt to, withstand, and quickly recover from future incidents.
• Long-term vulnerability reduction: The purpose of this core capability is to build and sustain resilient systems, communities, and critical infrastructure and key resources lifelines so as to reduce their vulnerability to threats and hazards. The specific objective of this core capability is to achieve a measurable decrease in the long-term vulnerability of the nation against current baselines amid a growing population base, changing climate conditions, increasing reliance upon information technology, and expanding infrastructure base.
• Housing: The purpose of this core capability is to implement housing solutions that effectively support the needs of the whole community and contribute to its sustainability and resilience. The specific objectives of this core capability are to establish a resilient and sustainable housing market that meets the needs of the community, including the need for accessible housing within the specified time frame in the recovery plan; assess preliminary housing impacts and needs, identify currently available options for temporary housing, and plan for permanent housing; and ensure community housing recovery plans continue to address interim housing needs, assess options for permanent housing, and define a timeline for achieving a resilient, accessible, and sustainable housing market.

Refer to pages 10-11 of the NOFA file for examples of allowable activities under each of the three core capabilities.

Additional general program objectives also include building state and local capacity to manage catastrophic incidents by improving and expanding regional collaboration among emergency managers and other preparedness stakeholders, and involve regional stakeholders in the development of plans to address those core capabilities that present persistent preparedness challenges.

Priority will be given to planning efforts that address the needs of disadvantaged communities who might be at special risk because of current and/or future hazards, including those associated with climate change.

Eligible costs may include planning, organization, training, exercises, personnel, consultants/contractors, domestic travel, conferences, and supplies.

Last Updated: June 05, 2024