Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi

S.F. Receives $1.8 Million in FEMA Funds

October 30, 1996

S.F. Receives $1.8 Million in FEMA Funds for Seismic Retrofitting of Critical Facilities

Funds to reduce risk of earthquake damage at San Francisco General Hospital and the Folsom Street Fire Station

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded $1,881,342 in federal Hazard Mitigation Grant funding to the City and County of San Francisco for seismic retrofitting of two critical City facilities. The funds will be used to retrofit a fire station and to strengthen San Francisco General Hospital and the Hospital's emergency power and water system.

"I am pleased that FEMA is recognizing the value of reducing future earthquake-related costs, both human and financial, in San Francisco," said Pelosi. "Hazard mitigation through seismic retrofitting will help to ensure the City's preparedness for future earthquakes and will assist in disaster relief."

"I commend the Clinton Administration and FEMA Director James Lee Witt once again for their commitment to improving the City's ability to respond to threats to the safety and well-being of San Franciscans in natural disasters" added Pelosi.

The grants announced today are:

• $162,500 is being added to initial federal funding of $1,237,500 for seismic strengthening and construction of an emergency water storage tank to supply steam boilers for emergency power at San Francisco General Hospital. The hospital is also receiving $37,750 to ensure emergency power will be more reliable for the critical care facility and $52,000 to replace the hospital's emergency power cooling system.
• $391,592 for the Fire Station at 2300 Folsom Street. This project is the first of six fire stations within the City to be seismically retrofitted to ensure operations during major earthquakes.

Under FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, FEMA provides half of the cost to seismically retrofit buildings, and the City and County of San Francisco will cover the remaining half.