DENVER – FEMA has approved more than $630,000 in funding to the Granite School District for work completed at Eisenhower Junior High to repair damages that occurred during the Magna Earthquake, and to mitigate against future damage. The assistance was made available as part of the major disaster declaration made by President Trump in July 2020 to support Utah’s recovery.
The project includes repairs to the school to address earthquake damage and includes additional structural improvements that will make the building more resistant to a future quake. The mitigation work included stabilization of the roof structure by adding new steel bracing. In addition, new steel connections and a concrete roof beam were installed along the west wall of the gymnasium and east wall of the auditorium; this strengthened the connections linking the roof, wall, and foundation. Carbon fiber rods were also installed to stabilize the brick walls during earthquake shaking.
The funding comes from FEMA’s Public Assistance program, which provides aid to repair or replace damaged public infrastructure or for emergency actions taken to protect property or support public safety. There is normally a 75 percent federal cost share, but the recently passed federal budget bill included a provision to increase the cost share to 90 percent for major disaster declarations made in 2020 and 2021. The remaining costs are the responsibility of the state and the local applicant receiving the funds.
The Eisenhower School project benefitted from a provision of the program that allows for the funding of additional mitigation work in certain cases. This project was eligible for the mitigation funds because it was proven to be cost effective over the life of the project. The mitigation funds amounted to more than $540,000.
To date, FEMA has provided more than $4.6 million to Utah households and communities for the Magna Earthquake recovery. Learn more about the disaster response and recovery efforts at www.fema.gov/disaster/4548.