The Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management convened on May 14, 2024, to discuss critical funding challenges facing California's disaster resilience programs. Key discussions highlighted the inadequacy of federal funding, particularly from FEMA, in addressing the state's pressing infrastructure needs.

A significant point raised during the meeting was the $5 billion allocated for the national resilience and communities program, which many attendees deemed insufficient for the scale of challenges posed by climate change and natural disasters. San Francisco's waterfront resilience program was cited as a prime example of the urgent need for increased funding. The city's seawall, built over 130 years ago, is now vulnerable to both sea level rise and seismic activity. Recent evaluations by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimate that retrofitting the seawall could cost around $13 billion, with local and state governments expected to cover approximately $4 billion of that total.

The discussion underscored the long-term nature of these projects, with San Francisco's earthquake safety implementation program spanning 30 years. While the city has successfully retrofitted multifamily buildings, challenges remain, particularly with non-ductile concrete structures that could fail during seismic events. The financial burden largely falls on property owners, with a reported compliance rate of 93% for the retrofitting program.

Concerns were also raised about the impact of these initiatives on vulnerable populations, who may lack the resources to recover from disasters. The committee emphasized the need for more robust federal support to ensure that California can effectively address its disaster preparedness and resilience needs. As the meeting concluded, participants expressed a desire for increased collaboration with federal agencies to secure necessary funding and resources.