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NEHRP Earthquake State Assistance (FEMA) - FAQs

1. What is the NEHRP Earthquake State Assistance grant opportunity?

The NEHRP Earthquake State Assistance grant opportunity is a FEMA initiative that provides assistance to eligible states and territories to support earthquake safety, mitigation, and risk-reduction activities. It is intended to help jurisdictions operate a sustained and effective earthquake risk reduction program, with a strong emphasis on improving implementation at the local level.

2. What is the main purpose of this funding?

The core purpose is to reduce the risk of death, injury, and property loss from future earthquakes across the United States by supporting earthquake preparedness and mitigation actions.

3. What types of activities does this program support?

Based on the synopsis, the program supports earthquake safety, mitigation, and risk-reduction activities. The description highlights activities that strengthen local-level implementation, where preparedness and mitigation actions often have the most immediate impact.

4. Who is the issuing agency for this opportunity?

The issuing agency is the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The synopsis identifies the issuing office as FEMA Region 8.

5. What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?

The funding activity category is Disaster Prevention and Relief.

6. Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?

It was offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement. This means FEMA anticipated substantial involvement in guiding or coordinating aspects of the work, rather than issuing a pass-through grant with minimal federal interaction.

7. What does "discretionary" mean in this context?

"Discretionary" indicates that awards are made at the agency's discretion, typically based on program priorities, application quality, eligibility, and other federal decision factors described in the full announcement.

8. What does it mean that FEMA anticipated "substantial involvement"?

In a cooperative agreement, FEMA may play an active role in the project by providing program direction, coordination, or technical involvement as the work is carried out, rather than simply providing funds with limited interaction.

9. What is the CFDA number associated with this program?

The associated CFDA number is 97.082, identified as the Earthquake Consortium.

10. How much total funding was estimated to be available?

The total estimated funding available under the announcement was $1,114,533.

11. Were there specific minimum or maximum award amounts?

The public synopsis listed both the award ceiling and the award floor as $0. This typically means specific award sizes were not pre-set in the synopsis and would be determined based on application scope, eligibility, and FEMA program decisions.

12. Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was limited to a defined list of states and territories named in the synopsis, rather than being open nationwide.

13. Which states and territories were listed as eligible?

The eligible jurisdictions listed were: New York, Puerto Rico, Alabama, North Carolina, Mississippi, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois, Arkansas, Missouri, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Alaska, Washington, and Oregon.

14. If my state is not on the list, can I apply?

Based on the eligibility language in the synopsis, applications were restricted to the named jurisdictions. If a state or territory was not listed, it would not be eligible under this particular opportunity as described.

15. The synopsis mentions "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility)". Does that mean other applicants could apply?

Even though the synopsis uses that phrasing, the eligibility language provided states that applications were restricted to the specifically named jurisdictions. Based on the information provided, eligibility was not open beyond that list.

16. Did the opportunity require cost sharing or matching?

Yes. The announcement required cost sharing or matching, meaning applicants were expected to contribute non-federal resources in accordance with the program rules.

17. When was this opportunity posted and when was it due?

The opportunity was posted on August 24, 2012. The application deadline was September 7, 2012.

18. What are the "created" and "archive" dates?

The synopsis lists a created date of August 29, 2012, and an archive date of October 7, 2012. The archive date generally indicates when the opportunity was no longer actively open or displayed as current in the listing.

19. Who was the program contact for questions or assistance?

The program contact listed was Claudette Fernandez, NEHRP/Earthquake State Assistance Program Manager (Lead), Building Science Branch, Risk Reduction Division, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration.

20. What email address was provided for help with the announcement?

The contact email provided was Claudette.fernandez@fema.dhs.gov, intended for applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement or who needed additional program guidance.

21. What laws authorize or support this program?

The program was created under the authority of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-124) and reinforced by the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-360).

22. What is the practical focus FEMA highlighted for this funding?

FEMA highlighted providing direct assistance to eligible states so they can carry out earthquake risk reduction activities, with an emphasis on improving local-level implementation.

23. Is this opportunity nationwide?

No. The synopsis describes eligibility as limited to specific states and territories listed in the announcement.

24. Where within FEMA was this program managed, based on the synopsis?

The listed program contact was within FEMA's Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, specifically the Risk Reduction Division, Building Science Branch.