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National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP)

NEHRP seeks to mitigate earthquake losses in the United States through basic and directed research and implementation activities in the fields of earthquake science and engineering.

Program Objectives

The program prioritizes reducing the risks to life and property from future earthquakes in the United States through the establishment and maintenance of an effective earthquake hazards reduction program. The program objectives are:

  1. Improve understanding of earthquake processes and impacts.
  2. Develop cost-effective measures to reduce earthquake impacts on individuals, the built environment, and society-at-large.
  3. Improve the earthquake resilience of communities nationwide. 

Program Priorities

  • Work with Model Building Codes and National Consensus Standards to promote implementation of research results
  • Develop and maintain Seismic Resistant Design and Construction Guidance and Tools (books, software, training) for new and existing structures, including Performance Based Seismic Design Guidelines
  • Program Implementation and Outreach (awareness campaigns, media, articles, initiatives)
  • Support multi-state groups
  • Support for State Earthquake Programs
  • Disaster Support (subject matter expert (SME), post-event studies) in accordance with the FEMA Disaster Response Framework, Earthquake Incident Annex and other applicable policies 
  • Support Standards for Critical Lifelines Infrastructure
  1. Eligibility Information
    Local governments and multi-state organizations identified by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) that incur expenses to cover the costs of planning and other related public safety initiatives intended to reduce risk from earthquakes.
  2. Application and Submission Information
    1. Application:

      Local governments must submit an application to the agency upon request.


      Applicants for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) will not receive a grant agreement until their application has been reviewed, approved and funding for the grant has been allocated. Grant agreements are distributed after the beginning of the state fiscal year, July 1, due to the need to determine obligation amounts and the release of state funding figures.


      IEMA shall execute a grant agreement with each grantee to whom a grant is awarded. The grant agreement shall specify the parties to the grant, the term of the grant, the amount of the grant, method of payment of the grant funds, permissible use of the grant funds and the documentation of expenditures to be maintained by grantee as authorized.

       

      The NEHRP grant agreement should be signed and dated by the principal executive officer. For county governments, the principal executive officer is the county board chairperson. For municipalities, the principal executive officer is either the mayor or the village president.



    2. Submission Timeframe for Quarterly Claims:

      All entities who have received a NEHRP grant agreement are required to submit claims, which detail grant expenditures. Sub-award recipients must submit claims on a quarterly basis. Sub-Award recipients’ claims are due 30 days following the end of each quarter. 1st Quarter (July-September) is due September 30; 2nd Quarter (October-December) is due January 30; 3rd Quarter (January-March) is due April 30; and 4th Quarter (April-June) is due July 30. Unclaimed funds are considered by the agency to be unspent funds. The agency will account for unspent funds by offsetting the next fiscal year grant by the amount of the unspent funds.

  3. Application Review Information

    IEMA will award the amount of each grant, based on the applicant’s approved request to the agency.

  4. Award Administration Information

    Participating applicants shall submit to IEMA a grant application for the purpose of approving the amount of the grant award. The grant application shall be submitted on forms provided by IEMA.



  5. State Awarding Agency Contact

    For more information on the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Grants, please contact Robert Evans, Bureau of Preparedness and Grants Administration, 2200 South Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, IL 62703

    Bob.P.Evans@illinois.gov