Is flood mitigation funding distributed equitably? Evidence from coastal states in the southeastern United States

Abstract The United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides funding to state and local governments as well tribes territories (SLTTs) through its Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant program engage in flood risk management efforts. Although all communities are susceptible flooding, flooding does not impact equally. This article contributes FEMA's goal of addressing equity concerns by examining whether the FMA is distributed equitably counties located eight coastal states States. Using secondary data from OpenFEMA, Centers for Disease Control Prevention/Agency Toxic Substances Registry, parcel‐level First Street Foundation 2016 2020, results indicate that socially vulnerable less likely receive funding, with greater average more funding. findings suggest there an opportunity FEMA improve so can be distributed, such providing writing application training support communities, educating about benefits program, extending deadline impacted events.