Originally published PERSPECTIVE: Mitigation Works, and So Does the BRIC Program on by https://www.hstoday.us/featured/perspective-mitigation-works-and-so-does-the-bric-program/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=perspective-mitigation-works-and-so-does-the-bric-program at Homeland Security
As the FEMA senior executive responsible for the design, implementation, administration, and oversight of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) pre-disaster hazard mitigation grant program—developed in conjunction with and support of the first Trump administration—I find the recent decision to end this bipartisan, fiscally responsible effort deeply troubling. This move will inevitably result in greater loss of life, property damage, and increased expenditures at the local, state, and federal levels.
The claim that BRIC is wasteful, ineffective, or politically motivated is not only misguided—it is wholly unsupported by data, evidence, or thoughtful analysis. Numerous studies and independent evaluations have consistently demonstrated the substantial return on investment from locally determined mitigation actions and projects funded through programs like BRIC.
My commitment for these efforts stem from my experience as mayor of my Nebraska hometown, as a state senator, and as lieutenant governor, where I witnessed firsthand the tangible benefits of mitigation investments. As a fiscal conservative, this perspective was further reinforced during my tenure as FEMA Region 8 Administrator, appointed by President George W. Bush, and later as FEMA’s senior executive for mitigation and insurance at headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Across my 16 years at FEMA—serving with political appointees under four presidential administrations, both Republican and Democrat—pre-disaster mitigation programs enjoyed consistent, nonpartisan support. Why? Because mitigation works. It is fiscally responsible (yielding a return on investment of 8:1 or greater), breaks the costly cycle of damage and repair, and most importantly, saves lives.
BRIC was established to implement the 2018 Disaster Recovery Reform Act, which passed Congress with broad bipartisan backing. The law modernized the former Pre-Disaster Mitigation program by providing a stable, predictable funding source and highlighting the value in up-to-date building codes. That stability allowed state and local governments to confidently commit time, personnel, and matching funds to long-term projects, knowing their investments had a viable path forward in a nationally competitive selection process. BRIC is a critical tool in the nation’s Hazard Mitigation Toolbox—one that must not be allowed to rust, be cast aside, or lost.
Suspending a proven and effective program that enhances resilience to natural hazards, mitigates disaster-related suffering, and reduces the financial burden on taxpayers is a profoundly shortsighted and ill-considered decision—particularly in light of the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events.
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Originally published PERSPECTIVE: Mitigation Works, and So Does the BRIC Program on by https://www.hstoday.us/featured/perspective-mitigation-works-and-so-does-the-bric-program/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=perspective-mitigation-works-and-so-does-the-bric-program at Homeland Security
Originally published Homeland Security
