The Sustainable and Flood Resilient Engineering for Rural Areas (SAFE Rural) Act would restructure the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program as a formula program with an additional dedicated funding stream specifically for rural, Tribal, and territorial communities. The bill would provide predictable, flexible funding to states, empowering them to drive proactive resilience strategies with streamlined procedures and simpler program design.

WHY WE LIKE IT

Smaller and rural communities are often the most vulnerable to flooding and the least equipped to compete for federal resources. Under BRIC’s current competitive structure, these communities frequently lack the staff capacity and technical resources to successfully apply for funds, leading to underinvestment in places that need it most. By cutting red tape to access BRIC funds and guaranteeing rural, Tribal, and territorial communities a dedicated share of funding, the SAFE Rural Act would help drive proactive resilience solutions for all communities.