FEMA is offering the FY 2023 Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program to enhance regional catastrophic incident preparedness in Region 1.

The FY 2023 Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program (RCPGP), as appropriated by the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. No. 117-328), provides funding to close known capability gaps, encourages innovative regional solutions to issues related to catastrophic incidents, and builds on existing regional preparedness efforts. The purpose of the RCPGP is to build regional capacity to manage catastrophic incidents by improving and expanding collaboration for catastrophic incident preparedness. The National Response Framework (4th edition or superseding edition) defines a catastrophic incident as any natural or human-caused incident, including terrorism, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the population, infrastructure, environment, economy, national morale, or government functions. Effective prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery activities require a cohesive regional approach to catastrophic planning.

The FY 2023 RCPGP also complements the 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan which outlines a bold vision and three ambitious goals designed to address key challenges the agency faces during a pivotal moment in the field of emergency management. Wide-ranging and long-term, the goals defined in the plan respond to the changing landscape in which we find ourselves. The goals to meet this challenge are:

 · Goal 1 – Promote and Instill Equity as a Foundation of Emergency Management;

· Goal 2 – Lead Whole of Community in Climate Resilience; and

· Goal 3 – Promote and Sustain a Ready FEMA and Prepared Nation.

In support of the above goals, the strategic priorities for the FY 2023 RCPGP are equity, climate resilience, and readiness. The FY 2023 RCPGP will promote and instill the goal of equity by helping members of particularly disadvantaged groups who might be at special risk as a result of current hazards, including those associated with climate change. By addressing the needs of underserved, at-risk communities, the FY 2023 RCPGP aims to ensure consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals before, during, and after a disaster.