North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced that the state has prevailed in its lawsuit against the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), resulting in a federal court order for FEMA to reinstate funding for the BRIC disaster mitigation program. The lawsuit, filed by Jackson in July, challenged FEMA’s earlier decision to cancel the program, which had removed approximately $200 million from more than 60 infrastructure projects throughout North Carolina.
In its decision, the court stated that “the BRIC program is designed to protect against natural disasters and save lives” and emphasized that “the imminence of disasters is not deterred by bureaucratic obstruction.” The ruling also found that FEMA’s cancellation constituted “unlawful Executive encroachment on the prerogative of Congress to appropriate funds for a specific and compelling purpose.”
Attorney General Jeff Jackson commented, “We won this case because FEMA tried to take back $200 million that it had already designated for North Carolina. Our towns spent years doing everything FEMA asked them to do to qualify for this funding, and they were in the middle of building real protections against storms when FEMA suddenly broke its word. Keeping water systems working and keeping homes out of floodwater isn’t politics – it’s basic safety. This ruling puts the money back where it was promised so these communities can be ready for the next storm.”
Governor Stein added, “North Carolina unfortunately is no stranger to natural disasters, and building better infrastructure saves lives. I thank Attorney General Jackson for taking action to preserve our $200 million to protect our water and sewer systems, bridges, and more from floods and wildfires.”
Eddie M. Buffaloe, Jr., Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety said, “Today’s ruling is welcome news for North Carolina. These resilience dollars are essential for helping communities strengthen water systems, reduce flooding risks, and better withstand severe weather. Restoring this funding means our state can move forward with projects that protect lives, property, and the long-term stability of our communities.”
The BRIC program supports disaster mitigation efforts such as improving water systems and reducing flood risks across various North Carolina communities.
A copy of the court’s order is available here.
