Boat washed up on the shoreline of Bayou Portage in Pass Christian, Miss. from the effects of Hurricane Ida on Monday, Aug. 30, 2021. (Hunter Dawkins/The Gazebo Gazette via AP)

The Gazebo Gazette

ATLANTA (GG) — FEMA announced more than $44 million in grant funding to Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,  Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee to empower community leaders to take decisive steps to  protect infrastructure and people from future disasters.  

This funding aligns with POTUS America First Resilience Strategy, which calls for a new, risk informed approach that treats resilience as an investment opportunity. It also delivers on the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s commitment to empowering state and local officials to manage their own  disaster preparedness, with FEMA supporting only if needed. 

The recent funding announced includes: 

▪ More than $41.1 million through FEMA’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program to fund disaster mitigation  projects in Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Congress  directed that these funds be distributed in the Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland Security and Further Additional  Continuing Appropriations Act. Most projects focus on improving infrastructure to reduce flood risk, while others  address hazards such as earthquakes and wildfires. To view the list of Congressional Directed Spending  projects, visit this link on FEMA.gov. 

▪ Nearly $2.7 million through FEMA’s Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element to fund  floodplain management practices. This program is designed to empower states and territories to support local  jurisdictions with flood reduction efforts. When done correctly, this can save lives and reduce the cost of future  disasters. A list of these floodplain management awards by state and territory is available on FEMA.gov. 

▪ More than $312,000 through FEMA’s National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program grants to reduce the risk  of earthquakes. Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee will receive federal funds to  train officials, conduct exercises and carry out other activities to prepare for potential earthquakes. 

Learn more at fema.gov September 2026.  For more information about these grant obligations and awards, visit the following FEMA webpages: Community  Assistance Program – State Support Services Element, National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program and Pre Disaster Mitigation Grant Program.

(Photos by Hunter Dawkins/The Gazebo Gazette via Associated Press)