Category: Uncategorized

One year after Helene: Western North Carolina leaders highlight ongoing need for resources

The American Flood Coalition (AFC) recently brought four elected leaders from Western North Carolina to Washington, D.C., to convene with leaders from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Capitol Hill to address the ongoing needs of its constituents one year after the devastation of Hurricane Helene.  The leaders prioritized two efforts that matter most […]

AI can make disaster response faster, smarter, and fairer — if we let it.

When disaster strikes, communities should be able to count on rapid and effective federal support. But too often, the processes designed to help them recover are delayed by outdated processes and bureaucracy. In the wake of a major flood in South Carolina, one local mayor told us, “It took 4 years and 2 approvals to […]

2024 in review

With historic flooding across the country, including severe storms in the Midwest and devastating hurricanes in the Southeast, 2024 showed the need for flood solutions in every community. Despite these challenges, this year we saw all levels of government build flood resilience: Communities planned flood projects, states invested in resilient infrastructure, and we worked with […]

2023 in review

As the year ends, we look back on achievements in flood resilience during 2023.

2022 in review

As the year ends, we look back on achievements in flood resilience during 2022.

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Help Me Choose

Which characteristics is your community looking for in funding opportunities?

Disaster declaration
A Presidential Disaster Declaration unlocks a suite of federal programs that assist local governments with disaster recovery. This is a good filter for communities included in recent Disaster Declarations related to flooding.
Nature-based solutions
The program has a strong focus on providing assistance to promote a healthy ecosystem as a critical defense against flooding impacts. Eligible activities may include floodplain restoration, environmental stewardship, projects that use natural features to mitigate erosion, and living shorelines.
Encourages public-private partnerships
The program encourages or requires collaboration between government entities and stakeholders, including the private sector, to fund, develop, or implement projects.
Offers rolling deadlines
The program accepts applications on an ongoing basis with no fixed deadline.

Is your project in the planning, design, or construction phase?

Planning
The gathering of data and information regarding the extent and impacts of flooding. Eligible activities may include data acquisition, risk assessment, and environmental analysis.
Design & scoping
Covers pre-construction activities, such as defining project scope, developing technical designs, and securing funding to prepare for implementation.
Construction & implementation
Involves carrying out flood resilience projects, including building infrastructure and deploying solutions to reduce flood risks.

Are you looking for grants, loans, or technical assistance for your project?

Funding (grants)
A monetary award that does not need to be repaid. Many federal grants are reimbursable, meaning recipients must cover project costs upfront and then request reimbursement from the government.
Financing (loans)
A government-issued loan that must be repaid. These loans typically provide funding upfront, helping communities cover project costs before repayment begins.
Technical assistance
Assistance from the government in the form of services — such as project planning, engineering and design support, data analysis, training, capacity building, or collaboration through a cooperative agreement — instead of direct funding.

Some programs provide extra support for specific project types or communities. Do any of these apply to your project?

Small or rural communities
Programs that set aside funding, offer loan forgiveness, or adjust cost share requirements for communities with smaller populations.
Small or low-cost projects
Programs that offer reduced requirements for smaller projects, such as waived cost-sharing or exemptions from benefit-cost analysis.
Regional or watershed focus
Programs that support projects that take a watershed management approach or address flooding at a regional scale, requiring coordination beyond a single town or community.
Tribal communities
Programs that dedicate resources or adjust cost share requirements specifically for tribal governments or organizations.
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