The federal government has canceled over $30 million in grant funding for seismic retrofits in California, a move that affects thousands of families living in buildings vulnerable to earthquakes. The grants, part of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, were intended to help retrofit structures in 11 California cities, including San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) canceled the grants last month, labeling the BRIC program as “wasteful and ineffective” and politically driven, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The cancellation has left many communities less prepared for potential earthquakes. Stephanie Stephens, the mitigation director at the California Residential Mitigation Program, expressed concern, stating, “That’s thousands of individuals that are going to be less safe when the next Big One comes.” The BRIC grants were part of a broader $3 billion cut, with $870 million specifically impacting California initiatives.
The retrofit program aimed to support the reinforcement of soft-story buildings, which are particularly vulnerable during earthquakes. These structures, often with a weak first story like a parking garage, can collapse during seismic events. The program would have provided financial assistance to building owners, covering a significant portion of retrofit costs, which can range from $50,000 to $200,000.
Despite the setback, the California Residential Mitigation Program is exploring alternative funding sources to continue supporting seismic retrofits. However, no new funding has been secured yet. Meanwhile, building owners in cities with mandatory retrofit ordinances must still comply, potentially passing costs onto tenants.
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