Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster Act
Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster Act
Plain Language Summary
# Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster Act Summary **What the Bill Does** This bill would expand and enhance FEMA's disaster prevention grant program (called BRIC). The main changes include increasing funding set aside for disaster prevention projects from 6% to 15%, and requiring FEMA to consider climate change when assessing disaster risks and setting building standards. The bill also directs 2% of these funds toward helping communities plan and prepare for disasters. **Who It Affects** The bill specifically targets low-income and environmentally disadvantaged communities, which would receive grants covering 90% of project costs (instead of requiring them to pay a larger share).
This makes it easier for poorer communities to fund resilience projects. The changes would affect communities nationwide that are preparing for natural disasters and seeking federal assistance. **Current Status** The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full House. As introduced legislation, it remains in the early stages of the legislative process.
CRS Official Summary
Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster ActThis bill modifies the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).Specifically, the billincreases the amount that may be set aside from FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund for BRIC from 6% to 15% of certain disaster grant amounts;authorizes FEMA to set aside 2% from the BRIC 15% set-aside for assistance with community planning and capacity building;provides a 90% federal cost share for BRIC grants to environmental justice communities, and increases the maximum number of people in small impoverished communities, which are also eligible for the 90% BRIC federal cost share; andauthorizes FEMA to develop guidance regarding how to incorporate climate change into the National Risk Index, benefit-cost analyses, and improved codes, specifications, and standards to address natural hazards.FEMA mustprioritize BRIC assistance for high hazard risk communities, environmental justice communities, communities with low tax revenue base per capita, and communities with a low rate of code adoption and enforcement and infrastructure maintenance expenditures;provide community outreach on project planning and grant administration; andestablish a central federal database to consolidate funding data collected by all local, state, and federal agencies involved in post-disaster response and pre-disaster mitigation spending and categorize the data by type of project, funding source, and hazard types using a user-friendly database and interactive map.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.