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Floods

Federal Cuts Hinder Virginia's Hazard Mitigation Projects, Emergency Management Support

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Virginia's state government agencies are experiencing significant cuts in funding from the federal budget, which are having a direct impact on the state's hazard mitigation projects and emergency management support. In an effort to understand the full scope of these cuts, state House members have been hosting committee meetings in communities across Virginia. These meetings have highlighted the critical need for investment in climate resilience and the importance of prioritizing projects that can provide infrastructure and safety for communities.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has identified several projects in the region that have already had their federal funding cut, including the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation's $300,000 for flood mitigation, the City of Hampton and nonprofit Wetlands Watch's $20 million for flood mitigation at Aberdeen Gardens, and the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission's $200,000 for updates to the Hazard Mitigation Plan.
  • The funding cuts are not limited to specific projects, but also include the discontinuation of the Building Resilient Infrastructure Communities program by FEMA, which had allocated $12 million to improve Richmond's water treatment facility.
  • The loss of research and data from the U.S. Geological Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration due to funding cuts is significant, particularly for local municipalities that rely on this information to form their resiliency and infrastructure plans.
  • Local governments are now looking for alternative funding streams for projects that have been cut, and are retooling some of the projects to submit to other agencies as infrastructure projects rather than solely resilience projects.
  • The state is missing out on millions of dollars for flood mitigation due to Gov. Glenn Youngkin's removal of the state from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, which was deemed unlawful by the Floyd County Circuit Court.
  • The Virginia Emergency Management Association (VEMA) is urging legislators to find a way to fund their work without significant federal help, highlighting the importance of investing in disaster mitigation and emergency preparedness.

Statistics:

  • $300,000: the amount of federal funding cut from the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation for flood mitigation.
  • $20 million: the amount of federal funding cut from the City of Hampton and nonprofit Wetlands Watch for flood mitigation at Aberdeen Gardens.
  • $517,000: the amount of federal funding cut from the City of Newport News for Stoney Run Flood reduction improvements.
  • $24 million: the amount of federal funding cut from the City of Portsmouth for improvements to the Lake Meade Dam.
  • $200,000: the amount of federal funding cut from the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission for updates to the Hazard Mitigation Plan.
  • $12 million: the amount of federal funding allocated by FEMA to improve Richmond's water treatment facility, which was discontinued.
  • $15.6 billion: the potential loss if a category three hurricane were to hit Hampton Roads, according to a study cited by VEMA.

Sources:

  • Chesapeake Bay Foundation
  • Inside Climate News
  • The Virginia Mercury
  • VEMA (Virginia Emergency Management Association)
  • FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
  • National Endowment for the Humanities
  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • U.S. Geological Service
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)
  • Floyd County Circuit Court

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