Policy & Research

Generating knowledge, ideas, and practices to address systemic gaps

POLICY BRIEF

Equitable Climate Resilience in North Carolina: Addressing Disparities in Rural Access to Federal Funding

by Jacob Hunter, MPP | July 8, 2024

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) is one federal grant program that aims to support communities in reducing disaster risks and building climate resilience. However, the distribution of these grants has been inequitable, with only a small percentage of funding awarded to low-capacity rural communities. This is a significant issue as rural areas are often more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and have limited resources to address them. In this report, we outline recommendations in three key areas so that rural communities can gain more equitable access to climate resilience funding and better prepare for the challenges posed by climate change. 

RESEARCH REPORT

Landscape Review of Disaster Resources in North Carolina

April 2024

When you think of disasters in North Carolina, hurricanes are the first thing that comes to mind. In March 2020, COVID-19 forced many of us to consider a broader understanding of the kinds of hazards that can affect our state and our neighbors. Our traditional systems of response and recovery – already imperfect – were tested and stretched as the pandemic revealed how underserved communities were disproportionately impacted. Acknowledging their valuable role in addressing disasters, philanthropic organizations have taken the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity for reflection, planning, and coordination about how to ensure their grantmaking is efficient, effective, and equitable. In service of that goal, this report explores four facets of the disaster landscape in North Carolina. 1. Hazards Affecting North Carolina, 2. Cross Sectoral Disaster Networks, 3. Approaches to Inclusion and Equity in Disasters, 4. The Role of Philanthropic Organizations in the Disaster Cycle. Funded by The Duke Endowment.