Federal grant programs / Department of Homeland Security

Earthquake State Assistance (97.082)

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$15.7 million
• Grant awards130
• Typical award$63,660
• Awarded in FY 2025$3.2 million
• Size rank1383 of 1824
• Type of assistanceCooperative agreements

Key findings

• Annual funding was roughly flat, $3.3 million in fiscal 2021 and $3.2 million in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 1383rd largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 90% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 24 states and territories.

What the program funds

The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) is the Federal Government’s coordinated approach to addressing earthquake risks. In support of NEHRP, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administers the Earthquake State Assistance grant program which is designed to increase and enhance the effective implementation of earthquake risk reduction activities at the national, regional, state and local level, by making funding available through annual, non-competitive and competitive grants. NEHRP implements the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Presidential Policy Directive (PPD -8) objective of hazard mitigation, to develop and maintain those capabilities necessary to reduce the loss of lives and property by lessening the impact of earthquakes. In an effort to provide eligible States and Territories with multiple funding and project management options, as well as to allow for multi-state coordination of projects, the Earthquake State Assistance grant program utilizes two separate funding opportunities: Individual State Earthquake Assistance (ISEA), and Multi-State and National Earthquake Assistance (MSNEA). The Individual State Earthquake Assistance funding opportunity provides funding directly to those States and Territories that have been determined to be at a high, or a very high risk of earthquakes, and who can provide the statutory 25 percent cost-share. They must also be able to demonstrate that the assistance will result in enhanced seismic safety in the State. Funding is provided to eligible States and Territories through non-competitive grants that are administered by FEMA Regional earthquake program management staff. Allowable activities include: Support of seismic mitigation planning, developing inventories and conducting seismic safety inspections of critical structures and lifeline infrastructure, updating building codes, zoning codes, and ordinances to enhance seismic safety, increasing earthquake awareness and education, participation in emergency management exercises that substantially benefit earthquake mitigation efforts, and the promotion of earthquake insurance. Additionally, the Multi-State and National Earthquake Assistance funding opportunity is designed to facilitate the development and management of National, regional and multi-state earthquake risk reductions activities. Funding is made available through competitive grants to nonprofit organizations, as defined by 2 C.F.R. §200.70 and institutions of higher education as defined by 2 C.F.R. §200.55. The grants are administered by FEMA Headquarters’ earthquake program management staff.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

Open opportunities

No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

The purpose of this funding is to support the earthquake mitigation efforts of States and Territories with High to Very High seismic risk as determined by the DHS, FEMA Program Office, non-profit organizations as defined by 2 C.F.R. §200.70 and institutions of higher education as defined by 2 C.F.R. §200.55. These efforts include 1) delivering and increasing awareness and education; 2) developing policies, tools, and products; and 3) implementing programs or projects to support risk reduction and resilience activities from earthquakes.

What the money can and cannot pay for

For costs associated with providing guidance, technology transfer, and assistance to eligible States and Territories, for earthquake hazard mitigation activities. The Individual State Earthquake Assistance NOFO is a non-competitive grant, and restricted to certain specialized/qualified organizations designated by FEMA. Funding may only be used for the purpose set forth in the grant and must be consistent with the statutory authority for the award. Grant funds may not be used for matching funds for other federal grants / cooperative agreements, or for lobbying or intervention in federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings. In addition, federal funds may not be used to sue the federal government or any other government entity. All financial and progress reports must be current at the time of application. Refer to the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Pre-award costs are not allowed. Refer to the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Refer to the Notice of Funding Opportunity.;

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Awardees of Individual State Earthquake Assistance (ISEA) Grants must provide 25 percent of the costs of the activities for which assistance is being given. The cost-share requirement is waived for U.S. Territories identified as “Insular Areas” in accordance with 48 U.S. Code, Title 48, Chapter 10, Section 1469a Congressional declaration of policy respecting “Insular Areas.” In addition, the FEMA Administrator may lower or waive the cost-share requirement of these activities for a small, impoverished community, as defined in section 203 for the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5133). Non-profit organizations and institutions of higher education awardees of Multi-State and National Earthquake Assistance (MSNEA) grants are not required to provide a cost-share. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Deadlines

All applications must be submitted in FEMA GO no later than 5:00:00 pm ET on Friday, May 31, 2023.

Award range and average, in the agency's words

Refer to the official Notice of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov by year for actual target allocations by program by eligible applicant.

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal Year2020: Administration of the National Earthquake Technical Assistance Program (NETAP); Annual earthquake preparedness drills for individuals and communities; Business community earthquake risk awareness and mitigation activities; Hosting the annual National Earthquake Program Manager meeting (NEPM); and Multi-State assistance with emergency management exercises, policy development, and outreach activities.Fiscal Year2021: Administration of the National Earthquake Technical Assistance Program (NETAP); Annual earthquake preparedness drills for individuals and communities; Business community earthquake risk awareness and mitigation activities; Hosting the annual National Earthquake Program Manager meeting (NEPM); and Multi-State assistance with emergency management exercises, policy development, and outreach activities.

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

State and local governments received 80% of the money, nonprofits 11% and businesses 8.1%.

By state

4 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards. They are California, Tennessee, Washington and Florida.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.