FEMA’s Elimination of the BRIC Program
FEMA’s recent decision to eliminate the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program has resulted in the loss of over $3.6 billion in federal funding for communities like Mount Pleasant, North Carolina, which were set to use the funds for vital infrastructure improvements aimed at disaster preparedness. Local officials, including Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson, have expressed dismay over the decision, emphasizing the importance of such funding for enhancing community resilience against natural disasters. Despite criticism, FEMA labeled the program as wasteful, while some Republican leaders, including Louisiana’s Senator Bill Cassidy, have called for its reinstatement, highlighting its significance for disaster mitigation efforts.