FEMA Announces $7.4 million for State, Territory Dam Safety Programs

WASHINGTON -- Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced a $7.4 million funding opportunity to promote dam safety around the nation.

Through the National Dam Safety Program's Fiscal Year 2026 State Assistance funding opportunity, FEMA is empowering states and territories to manage programs critical to ensuring safety in their communities.

Because many American communities rely on dams to prevent catastrophic flooding, state- and territory-managed dam safety programs are essential for disaster mitigation and prevention. This funding opportunity helps states and territories manage these critical programs so they can meet their unique dam safety needs and protect human life and property.

"America's disaster resilience is strongest when states and territories have the resources and flexibility to reflect their unique needs, and this includes promoting dam safety," said FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton. "While dams provide critical infrastructure benefits, they also pose risks. Through this funding, FEMA is investing in dam safety programs across this nation. These programs from our state and territory partners are essential in promoting actions that protect this critical infrastructure."

State and territory dam safety programs may use these funds to help identify and mitigate risk before disasters occur. Eligible actions include training, increasing dam inspections, reviewing and issuing permits, safety coordination and identifying dams in need of repairs or removal.

This funding follows another National Dam Safety Program announcement from earlier this summer. Earlier this month, FEMA posted approximately $11.4 million in Fiscal Year 2026 Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams funding to provide grants to states and territories to support technical, planning, design and construction activities to rehabilitate, repair and remove dams.

These two funding opportunities bring the total amount of funding for dam safety this fiscal year to approximately $18.8 million.

Only state dam safety programs from eligible states and territories may apply. The funding opportunity-open Aug. 18-Sept. 2-may be viewed on Grants.gov.

For more information about the National Dam Safety Program, visit FEMA.gov.