ASFPM Leads Coalition Urging Continued Support for FEMA Mitigation Programs
ASFPM and 54 allied organizations sent a joint letter today to President Donald Trump and key members of his administration, urging continued investment in the FEMA’s critical hazard mitigation programs. The letter underscores the proven effectiveness of programs like Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FMA), and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), and warns of the consequences if these programs are weakened or eliminated.
The letter explains that hazard mitigation — whether pre- or post-disaster — is the most cost-effective way to protect lives, property, and the federal budget. These programs reduce repetitive losses, improve public safety, and offer communities tools to become more resilient in the face of increasing natural disasters. ASFPM and the coalition of non-profit, private sector, and academic organizations emphasized that curtailing mitigation programs now would reverse decades of bipartisan progress and leave the nation more vulnerable.
“Investments in hazard mitigation programs make communities more resilient and can substantially reduce the economic costs of disasters,” the letter stated. “As noted, numerous studies, including those by the U.S. National Institute of Building Sciences and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce confirm that every dollar spent on hazard mitigation can yield up to $13 in future savings. These aren’t just savings in the abstract — they represent homes that remain standing, businesses that remain open, communities that survive, and local governments that can recover more quickly and without financial collapse.”
