This article is part of our President’s FY2025 Budget Request Coverage. Visit our Rolling Analysis Page for more.

When we talk about fiscal responsibility, the narrative often revolves around cutting costs and streamlining budgets. However, as the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) budget for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) comes into focus, we must recognize the savings from making upfront investments in climate resilience and disaster mitigation. Enhanced funding for disaster response and recovery is not just a necessity but a fiscally responsible approach in an era where climate-induced disasters are no longer aberrations but norms.

By supporting and encouraging state and local governments in implementing preventive measures, the potential to reduce the overall impact of disasters is immense. Programs like the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program are a wise allocation of resources. TCS also supports the importance of a community-based approach, especially given the unique challenges faced by various regions. Tailoring grants and assistance programs to specific needs ensures that the support provided is both effective and efficient. Moreover, this approach recognizes the disproportionate impact of climate disasters on underserved and vulnerable populations.

The FY25 budget request for FEMA includes specific allocations for various initiatives aimed at disaster resilience, recovery, and relief. Key allocations include:

• Disaster Relief Fund (DRF): The budget proposes $22 billion for the DRF, to address ongoing recovery needs in communities affected by major disasters and to close the funding gap in disaster costs for 2024. This is the fund that FEMA immediately taps post-major disaster declaration to help people and communities without delay.
• Climate Resilience Programs: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which includes FEMA, is allocated $1.5 billion for climate resilience programs in the FY25 request.
• Flood Hazard Mapping: The budget includes $51 million specifically for flood hazard mapping to develop new data on future flood conditions, so communities have the most up-to-date information regarding flood risk not just today but in the future. This can inform mitigation and risk reduction efforts.
• FEMA Grants: The budget proposes nearly $3.6 billion for FEMA grants that support jurisdictions to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from terrorism and natural disasters, including $385.0 million for firefighter grants, $375 million for Emergency Management Performance Grants, and

The budget also commits resources to upgrading FEMA’s technological capabilities. By investing in advanced data analytics and communication technologies, FEMA improves its ability to predict and prepare for emergencies, ultimately leading to more efficient resource deployment and cost savings.

The saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Investing in mitigation and resilience upfront is not just environmentally sound but also fiscally prudent. By reducing the long-term costs associated with disaster response and recovery, a well-funded and prepared FEMA means a reduced burden on federal, state, and local resources during emergencies.