• State Assistance
• Cooperative Agreements with Earthquake Partners
• Other FEMA Grant Programs
• Examples of Potential Grant-Supported Mitigation Activities

State Assistance

The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) Earthquake State Assistance Program was created to increase and enhance the effective implementation of earthquake risk reduction at the local level.

• Annual Guidance
• Background and Authorities
• Purpose
• Available Funding and Eligible Applicants
• Performance Reports
• Contact Information

Cooperative Agreements with Earthquake Partners

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maintains cooperative agreements with several nonprofit organizations to advance earthquake safety in the United States. Under these agreements, FEMA works with and provides financial assistance to four regional earthquake consortia and the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI).

The regional consortia, all of which have been in operation for at least 15 years, bring together public officials and others from member states to cooperate and collaborate in confronting the earthquake hazards facing their regions. FEMA supports their efforts to increase awareness of seismic hazards, risks, and risk reduction strategies among individuals and organizations in the public and private sectors; to provide loss reduction information, education, and training; and to develop and promote regional, state, and local risk reduction policies and programs.

EERI is a national technical society of engineers, geoscientists, architects, planners, public officials, and social scientists. The institute is a leader in earthquake investigations and in the dissemination of earthquake risk reduction information. FEMA supports EERI’s work in translating research and technological developments into earthquake loss reduction knowledge, policies, and tools. With FEMA’s assistance, EERI disseminates and promotes these resources through its membership, including regional and student chapters, and through EERI products and events, including publications, audiovisual materials, seminars, workshops, and conferences.

Other FEMA Grant Programs

FEMA administers several grant programs intended to reduce the risks to people and property posed by natural hazards. Although these programs are not dedicated exclusively to earthquakes, they can be valuable sources of funding assistance for risk-reduction efforts targeting earthquakes or earthquakes and other hazards at state or local levels.

The Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant Program provides funds annually to states, U.S. territories, Indian tribal governments, communities, and universities for hazard mitigation planning and associated mitigation projects carried out prior to earthquakes or other potential natural disasters. By supporting these plans and projects, the PDM program reduces overall risks to the population and structures while also reducing reliance on post-disaster assistance.

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) provides grants for implementing long-term hazard mitigation measures following a Presidential disaster declaration. The intent is to help states, local governments, and other eligible recipients take advantage of mitigation opportunities that arise in the wake of a damaging earthquake or other natural disaster. This enables grantees to reduce the casualties and property losses that are likely to be incurred in future events.

The Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG) Program provides funds annually to U.S. states and territories for enhancing and sustaining all-hazards preparedness among state- and local-government emergency management agencies.

For more information about these programs, including the latest eligibility and application guidance, visit the links highlighted above. Information about other FEMA assistance programs is available at FEMA Grants and Assistance Programs.

Examples of Potential Grant-Supported Mitigation Activities

FEMA maintains the online Mitigation Best Practices Portfolio to document and share examples of successful mitigation activities. Many of the varied projects described in the portfolio were or could have been funded through the earthquake-relevant assistance programs described on this page. Consequently, the portfolio can serve as a fertile source of ideas for earthquake risk-reduction projects that may be eligible for assistance under these programs.

The portfolio includes activities targeted to many types of natural and man-made hazards. You can search for potential project ideas by hazard at Mitigation Best Practices Search. Keep in mind that some activities indexed under hazards other than earthquakes, such as tsunamis or landslides, could also have relevance for earthquake mitigation.