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Council approves FEMA hazard mitigation grant and seeks BRIC funding to update city hazard plan
Summary
The council accepted a nearly $2.0 million FEMA hazard mitigation grant for East Boston waterfront flood projects and approved a separate BRIC grant to update Boston’s hazard mitigation plan, which is required for eligibility in future federal mitigation and disaster funding.
The City Council voted to accept a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hazard mitigation grant of $1,987,500, passed through the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, to fund resiliency planning for the East Boston waterfront — including Carlton Wharf and Lewis Wharf — and to expedite design and construction on identified flood pathways.
Councilor Gabriela Calle Zapata urged suspension of the rules and immediate acceptance, saying the grant would “help in the planning of major flood pathways” and could unlock roughly $15 million in additional federal construction funding for the projects. The council approved the measure by voice vote after the sponsor described the sites as “ground zero” for coastal flooding in their respective neighborhoods.
Separately, the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice recommended and the council approved a City Office of Emergency Management application for a Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant of $180,000 to update Boston’s municipal hazard mitigation plan (MHMP). Committee testimony explained that an up‑to‑date locally approved hazard mitigation plan is a prerequisite to receive BRIC funds and other FEMA mitigation and disaster recovery dollars.
Committee chair Councilor Santana noted that although the BRIC grant is modest in dollar size, the updated plan is a gateway to multi‑million‑dollar mitigation construction grants. The BRIC award will fund planning work to sustain pre‑disaster mitigation programs and reduce reliance on post‑disaster declarations.
Action: Docket 0942 (East Boston Waterfront Carlton Wharf and Lewis Wharf resiliency project grant) was suspended and passed on the council floor. Docket 0891 (BRIC hazard mitigation plan update) was approved after the Public Safety Committee recommended passage; the roll call on 0891 was unanimously affirmative.
