How Emergency Managers Can Use EMPG Funding to Improve Flood Preparedness

When disaster strikes, seconds matter; for emergency managers on the front lines, having access to the right information at the right time can make all the difference. That’s why the reopening of the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) program presents a powerful opportunity: to invest in the tools that help your team stay one step ahead of the next flood.

Read the Grant Programs Directorate Information Bulletin, dated July 29, 2025, to see the allocation for your state.

What Is the EMPG Program?

The EMPG provides funding to state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency management agencies to help build and sustain core capabilities. That includes technology and software solutions that enhance preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery for threats and hazards, such as flooding, that pose the greatest risk to national security.

And yes, that includes flood forecast and early warning tools like FloodMapp ForeCast.

This year’s tight funding window offers a chance to address one of the most urgent and escalating threats to public safety: flooding. With climate-driven rainfall intensifying across the U.S., communities face more frequent and more severe flash flood events—many with little warning.

Why FloodMapp ForeCast Is a Smart EMPG Investment

FloodMapp’s impact-based ForeCast technology provides predicted flood extent, depth, and impact as a live mapping feed designed to help emergency managers plan and act before floodwaters rise. Plus, it is delivered directly to your geographic information system (GIS) environment and alerting system.

EMPG Funds Can Cover the following preparedness activities and technology:

• Logistics Planning

• Evacuation Planning

• Disaster Housing Planning

• Pre-disaster Recovery Plans

• Training and Exercises

• Maintenance and Sustainment: supports the purchase of equipment aligned with the five mission areas contained within the goal

Mapping Out Your Project: Implementing a Flood Forecast and Alerting System to Enhance Emergency Preparedness

A project to deploy a flood early warning system supports the EMPG Program Goal to build and sustain the capabilities necessary to prevent, protect against, mitigate the effects of, respond to, and recover from the threat of flooding, a leading threat to national security.

Using advanced hydrology, AI, machine learning, and local data, ForeCast delivers street-level flood predictions up to 6 days in advance, making it easier to:

• Identify evacuation routes and potential closures

• Alert residents in high-risk areas sooner

• Implement a flood alerting system to issue localized, tailored alerts

• Pre-position response teams and resources

• Coordinate with partner agencies in a shared operating picture

• Reduce overall risk to life and property

• Train your team on proactively monitoring impending flood threats as rain events approach

• Activate your EOC ahead of flood disasters and maintain situational awareness as a flood unfolds

• Train your team on best practices when writing emergency flood alerts

Whether you're mapping out an evacuation strategy or setting up a pre-disaster alerting system, ForeCast can help your team build confidence in your decisions, even when conditions change quickly.

EMPG Authorized Equipment List

EMPG funds can be used to support IT and software investments (Category 4 on the Authorized Equipment List) that enhance preparedness and operational coordination.

How to build your proposal:

To apply for funding to cover flood early warning systems, use the table below to help you:

• Map out the requirements for your flood early warning system.

• Identify the IT components that are included on the Authorized Equipment List and are eligible for EPMG funding.

• Identify some example products that might make up the components of your system.

We can support your agency with grant justification materials. Please connect with our team if you need support.

Categories	Sub-Categories	Examples
AP - Application Systems and Software	Computer-Aided Dispatch, Position Locating Systems, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Risk Management Software, Incident Management, Analytical Tools, Inventory, Simulation, Notification and Warning Systems, Emergency Medical Communication, SAAS	Esri ArcGIS Online  FloodMapp ForeCast, NowCast, or PostCast  FloodMapp   Genasys Protect
HW - Hardware	Computers, Peripherals, Networking Components, Miscellaneous Adapter Cables / Connections	FloodMapp ForeCast, NowCast, or PostCast
AI - Artificial Intelligence	Artificial Intelligence Applications	FloodMapp ForeCast, NowCast, or PostCast
SN - Sensor Devices	Remote Sensors	Low-cost flood sensors to fill gaps in ungauged tributaries and support flash flood warning—can be integrated with FloodMapp ForeCast.

You’re Not Alone in Facing These Risks

FloodMapp works with emergency managers across the country who are tackling similar challenges: tight budgets, growing responsibilities, and increased pressure to act fast when a flood event develops. We’re here to support you, not just with technology, but with guidance and insights that can help your team succeed.

If your agency is considering EMPG funding this year, let’s connect. We’d love to share examples, success stories, and resources to help you build a stronger, safer flood plan for your community.

We’re here to help you secure funding to build preparedness and enhance public safety.

Talk to Our Team About EMPG Funding