• Grants fund programs that mitigate hazards posed by natural and man-made disasters.flood image by Gail Ranney from Fotolia.com
  
  The world can be a dangerous place. Though no one wants to spend too much time dwelling on all the things that could possibly happen, the best way to make it though a disaster is with preparation. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's ominously titled "Are You Ready" guide, it's important to have a plan to mitigate the effects of hazards, whether you're facing a flood, a tornado, an earthquake, an erupting volcano, a chemical explosion or a terrorist attack.
  
  

Hazard Mitigation and Structural Engineering

• The National Science Foundation's Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation Division offers the Hazard Mitigation and Structural Engineering grant program. The program's goal is "improving the behavior, safety, and reliability of structural systems and their resistance to natural hazards such as earthquakes and technological hazards such as bombs," according to grant guidelines. Grants fund projects with a focus on research into structural system performance and design. Proposals should include strategies for developing new technologies to mitigate hazards. Funded projects include model simulations, analysis of structural behavior and response, innovations that lead to improved structural resilience and reliability, and structural health monitoring. Colleges, universities, nonprofit and for profit organizations, and state and local government agencies are eligible to apply.
  
  National Science Foundation
  
  Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation Division
  
  4201 Wilson Boulevard
  
  Arlington, Virginia 22230
  
  703-292-7081
  
  nsf.gov
  
  

Infrastructure Management and Extreme Events

• The National Science Foundation's Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation offers hazard mitigation grants through the Infrastructure Management and Extreme Events program. The grant program's focus is "the impact of large-scale hazards on civil infrastructure and society and on related issues of preparedness, response, mitigation and recovery," according to grant guidelines. Funding supports research projects that connect engineering with behavioral, economic, political and social sciences. Qualifying project topics include how society and civil infrastructures interact and influence one another, the development of more sustainable infrastructure and reducing risk through the discovery of civil infrastructure vulnerabilities. Institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, state and local government agencies and businesses are eligible to apply.
  
  National Science Foundation
  
  Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation Division
  
  4201 Wilson Boulevard
  
  Arlington, Virginia 22230
  
  703-292-8606
  
  nsf.gov
  
  

Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program

• The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Administration offer grants through the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program. The program's goal is "sustained pre-disaster natural hazard mitigation program to reduce overall risk to the population and structures from future hazard events, while also reducing reliance on federal funding from future disasters," according to grant requirements. Levee repair and construction is a fundable activity under grant guidelines.
  
  Grant awards range up to $3 million. State, county and city governments, tribal governments and territorial governments are eligible to apply.
  
  Federal Emergency Management Agency
  
  Department of Homeland Security
  
  500 C Street, S.W.
  
  Washington, DC 20472
  
  fema.gov