Commonwealth submits $326M in pre-disaster grants for Virginia localities Published Monday, Apr. 19, 2021, 8:15 pm Join AFP's 100,000+ followers on Facebook Purchase a subscription to AFP Subscribe to AFP podcasts on iTunes and Spotify News, press releases, letters to the editor: augustafreepress2@gmail.com The Virginia Department of Emergency Management announced that 53 hazard mitigation project applications were submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under two grant programs. These projects total over $326 million and demonstrates the increased interest in taking pre-disaster actions to reduce risk from future disasters Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities The BRIC grant program prioritizes project applications that reduce the risk states, local communities, and tribes face from disasters and natural hazards. BRIC is a new FEMA pre-disaster hazard mitigation program that replaces the Pre-Disaster Mitigation program. The guiding principles of BRIC are to support communities through capability and capacity building; encourage and enable innovation; promote partnerships; and enable large projects. VDEM submitted 26 applications for local governments, six applications for Planning District Commissions, three applications for state agencies, and one application for the Pamunkey Indian Tribe.