What happens when a lifeline for flood-prone towns vanishes? In 2025, communities across the Southeast, many in Republican strongholds, are reeling after the Trump administration canceled a critical FEMA program designed to prevent storm damage. From Louisiana to North Carolina, local leaders like Central, Louisiana’s Mayor Wade Evans are fighting to restore funding for projects that could save homes and lives. Here’s the story behind the cuts and their impact.
1. The BRIC Program: A Lifeline for Storm-Prone Areas
Launched during Trump’s first term, the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program provided $4.6 billion to fund projects like drainage systems and building elevations in storm-prone areas. A CBS News analysis found that two-thirds of grant-receiving counties voted for Trump in 2024, highlighting its importance in red states. In April 2025, FEMA abruptly canceled BRIC, calling it “wasteful” and overly focused on “political agendas” like climate change.
Key Stat: Every $1 spent on disaster mitigation saves up to $18 in recovery costs, per research cited by Congress.
2. Central, Louisiana: A Town Left Vulnerable
Mayor Wade Evans, a lifelong Central resident and Trump supporter, knows flooding’s devastation firsthand. In 2016, a “thousand-year flood” destroyed 60% of the town’s structures, forcing Evans and his family to evacuate by boat. A $39 million BRIC grant, awarded in July 2024, promised three new basins to manage floodwater. “It was a smart investment to protect homes,” Evans said. But FEMA’s cancellation pulled the funding, leaving Central exposed.
Evans, who entered politics after witnessing slow recovery efforts, traveled to Washington, D.C., in 2025 to plead with lawmakers like Rep. Steve Scalise and Sen. John Kennedy. “This program works,” he said. “Don’t dismantle it.”
3. Red States Hit Hardest
The cuts affect vulnerable Southeast communities:
- Florida: 18 of 22 counties set to receive $250 million in grants supported Trump in 2024.
- North Carolina: Projects stalled include elevating buildings in Pollocksville, a rural town hit by Hurricane Florence in 2018.
- Louisiana: 34 grants worth $185 million were canceled, prompting Sen. Bill Cassidy to condemn the decision on the Senate floor.
Cassidy and over 80 bipartisan lawmakers urged DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to reinstate BRIC, arguing that cutting it will raise recovery costs after future storms.
4. Stories of Stalled Progress
- Conway, South Carolina: After floods from hurricanes in 2015-2018, a $2.1 million BRIC grant aimed to create a stormwater storage facility. With 75% of planning done, the project is now in limbo. “We can’t afford this without federal help,” said City Administrator Adam Emrick.
- Pollocksville, North Carolina: A $1 million grant to flood-proof Main Street buildings was halted days before construction. Mayor Jay Bender said, “We’re just trying to make our town better, and this hurts.”
FEMA promised to coordinate with affected communities, but towns like Conway and Pollocksville report no updates, leaving projects “shovel-ready” but unfunded.
5. Why the Cuts Matter to You
Floods don’t care about politics, as Evans puts it, yet the BRIC cancellation hits hardest in Trump-voting areas. Without these projects, communities face higher risks and recovery costs, potentially raising taxes or insurance rates. What can be done? Local leaders suggest:
- Advocate for federal funding restoration.
- Invest in local mitigation, like warning systems.
- Support bipartisan efforts to prioritize disaster preparedness.
How can we protect our towns from the next storm? Share your thoughts below!
Read More: How communities are rebuilding after 2025 FEMA cuts.
Take Action: Spread the word about the BRIC program’s impact! Share this article and comment with your ideas for stronger, safer communities.
