National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Individual State Earthquake Assistance

The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) Individual State Earthquake Assistance (ISEA) grant program makes funds available to states and U.S. territories to increase and enhance the effective implementation of earthquake risk reduc

The Individual State Earthquake Assistance (ISEA) funding opportunity provides funding directly to those States and Territories that have been determined to be at a high or very high risk of earthquakes, and who can provide the statutory 25 percent cost-share. They must also be able to demonstrate that the assistance will result in enhanced seismic safety in the State. Funding is provided to eligible States and Territories through non-competitive grants that are administered by FEMA Regional earthquake program management staff. Allowable activities include: support of seismic mitigation planning, developing inventories and conducting seismic safety inspections of critical structures and lifeline infrastructure, updating building codes, zoning codes, and ordinances to enhance seismic safety, increasing earthquake awareness and education, participation in emergency management exercises that substantially benefit earthquake mitigation efforts, the promotion of earthquake insurance, and National Earthquake Program Managers (NEPM) meeting participation and support.

U.S. Territories, State, Local, Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments. This funding opportunity is provided to those states, tribal governments, and territories that have been determined to be at a high or very high risk of earthquakes. This determination is made and published annually by FEMA as the State Assistance Target Allocation Plan. The FY 2025 plan determination is based on the Seismic Design Category (SDC) per the 2020 NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures FEMA P-2082, American Society of Civil Engineers and Structural Engineering Institute ASCE/SEI 7-22 Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures, as shown in the International Code Council (ICC) approved 2024 IBC SDC map and at-risk population in a state. A state of high earthquake risk (with areas in the state boundary designated as SDC D or above per the 2024 IBC SDC map and at-risk population more than 50,000 based on 2020 US Census population), OR more than 1000 square miles of high seismic area (SDC D or above per 2024 IBC SDC map) will be eligible for a baseline amount plus an additional risk-based award amount. Applicants should be aware that changes in areas of earthquake hazard within the state and changes in population size affect the determination. The additional amount is in proportion to the state's Annualized Earthquake Loss, which is documented in FEMA P-366 HAZUS Estimated Annualized Earthquake Losses for the United States. Participation in this funding opportunity is further limited to those states and territories that can provide the statutory 25% non-federal cost share. The cost share requirement does not apply to those territories that are considered "Insular Areas" (U.S. Virgin Islands), and otherwise eligible for program participation.

This NOFO and any subsequent Federal awards create no rights or causes of action for any participant or beneficiary.

The period of performance will be 18 months for the Individual State Earthquake Assistance grant program. The Period of Performance for all FY 2024 Individual State Earthquake Assistance Grant Awards is scheduled as September 1, 2024, through February 28, 2026. Extensions to the period of performance will be considered only through formal requests to FEMA and will only be granted for specific and compelling reasons. All extension requests must be submitted to FEMA at least ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the grant period of performance. Any unobligated funds will be de-obligated at the end of the 90-day close-out period. For more information on extensions and how assistance is awarded/released, refer to the official Notices of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov.

As a federal agency, FEMA is required to consider the effects of its actions on the environment and historic properties to ensure that all activities and programs funded by FEMA, including grant-funded projects, comply with federal EHP laws, Executive Orders, regulations, and policies, as applicable. For NEHRP Individual State Earthquake Assistance, FEMA has prepared a Memo of Record, dated 02/25/2025, that documents EHP compliance for the range of activities eligible for funding under this NOFO pursuant to FEMA's Instruction on Implementation of the Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation Responsibilities and Program requirements, FEMA Instruction 108-1-1. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/08/22/2016-19534/fema-directive[1]108-1-and-fema-instruction-108-1-1.

NOFO. ​​Registering and applying for an award under this program is a multi-step process and requires time to complete. Read the instructions below about registering to apply for FEMA funds. Applicants should read the registration instructions carefully and prepare the information requested before beginning the registration process. Reviewing and assembling the required information before beginning the registration process will alleviate last-minute searches for required information. The registration process can take up to four weeks to complete. To ensure an application meets the deadline, applicants are advised to start the required steps well in advance of their submission. Organizations must have an UEI number, an EIN, an active SAM registration and Grants.gov account to apply for a federal award under this funding opportunity. Applications are processed through the FEMA GO system. To access the system, go to https://go.fema.gov/. Hard copies of the NOFO can be downloaded at Grants.gov or obtained via email from the Awarding Office points of contact listed in Section G of the NOFO, "DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information" or by TTY (800) 462-7585.For a list of steps to apply for assistance, refer to the official Notice of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov.

Applications are reviewed by the FEMA Regional Program Office to ensure compliance with grants management principles, such as administrative requirements and cost principles. Applicants/applications that do not meet eligibility requirements are removed from consideration.

Refer to official Notice of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov.

All applications must be submitted in FEMA GO no later than 5:00:00 p.m. ET on Monday, August 11, 2025. All applications must be received by the established deadline. FEMA will not review applications that are received after the deadline or consider these late applications for funding. FEMA may, however, extend the application deadline on request for any applicant who can demonstrate that good cause exists to justify extending the deadline. Good cause for an extension may include technical problems outside of the applicant's control that prevent submission of the application by the deadline, other exigent or emergency circumstances, or statutory requirements for FEMA to make an award. Applicants experiencing technical problems outside of their control must notify FEMA as soon as possible and before the application deadline. Failure to timely notify FEMA of the issue that prevented the timely filing of the application may preclude consideration of the award.

Refer to official Notice of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov.