OAKLAND, Calif. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has granted $2.8 million to the Moulton Niguel Water District to seismically retrofit 18 potable water storage tanks.
All 18 tanks in Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel and Aliso Viejo are near active earthquake fault zones in Orange County, making them susceptible to shaking loose from their foundations, rupturing or potentially sliding down hillsides during a large incident.
Completion of the project will bring the equipment into compliance with current seismic codes and standards, which will significantly reduce the risk of tank damage and ensure water remains drinkable for 172,000 homes and businesses after a seismic event.
The $3.7 million project includes a $2.8 million grant from FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), with the remaining $928,000 from non-federal sources.
FEMA’s HMGP helps states, territories, federally-recognized tribes, local communities, and certain private, non-profit organizations become more resilient to potential infrastructure damage and reduce future disaster costs. In the past 31 years, FEMA has invested nearly $1.4 billion to reduce disaster risk in California.
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