FEMA BRIC Benefit-Cost Analysis: What California Agencies Need Before They Apply

A FEMA benefit-cost analysis uses the FEMA BCA Toolkit to show a project is cost-effective.

By Dr. Shirley Ayangbah, Founder and Lead Strategist, Global Economic Research Consulting (GERC)

FEMA’s hazard mitigation grants, including BRIC and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, generally require a project to be cost-effective. In practice, that usually means a benefit-cost analysis (BCA) using FEMA’s BCA Toolkit showing a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 1.0 or more. FEMA restarted BRIC with a funding opportunity released in March 2026, placing more weight on infrastructure projects and design readiness.

What the BCA measures

A FEMA BCA compares the project’s cost with the future losses it should avoid over its useful life: damage to buildings and infrastructure, loss of function, displacement and, depending on the method, social and environmental benefits. As a result, the analysis produces a BCR.

Data to gather before you start

• A clear project scope, cost estimate and useful life from your engineer
• Hazard data: flood depths and frequencies, fire risk, seismic data or other hazard information
• Damage history: past events, repair costs, insurance claims and service disruptions
• Facility information: replacement values, the population served and the cost of lost service
• Maintenance costs over the project life

Common reasons BCAs fail

• Benefits with no documentation or traceable source
• Useful life or maintenance assumptions that do not match the engineering
• Missing benefit categories, such as loss of utility service or road closures
• Scope in the application that does not match the scope in the BCA

If the BCR is below 1.0

First, check for benefits you missed, whether the project can be phased, or whether another programme, state funds or local money fits better. However, do not stretch assumptions. After all, FEMA reviewers check them.

How GERC helps with a FEMA benefit-cost analysis

For this reason, we prepare FEMA BCAs and the narrative that links risk reduction to the benefit-cost ratio, for cities, counties, water and utility districts and tribes. See FEMA BRIC and hazard mitigation BCA and our benefit-cost analysis services.

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About the author

Dr. Shirley Ayangbah is the founder of Global Economic Research Consulting, a woman-owned, California-certified Small Business (Micro) and SB-PW firm in San Bernardino (Certification ID 2045992). She holds a PhD in International Economic and Financial Law and an MA in Economics, and leads GERC’s procurement, grant and economic analysis work for public agencies, prime contractors and small businesses. Call (909) 454-7076 or book a consultation.