NORTH COAST, Calif. – Natural disasters come in many forms and affect people in different ways.

Low-income and vulnerable populations in our communities are most at risk and likely to need support in the event of a disaster or emergency.

North Coast Opportunities announced the release of a grant program intended to provide the community with access to resources to help everyone be prepared for emergencies.

This type of work is not new to NCO, with five years of leadership in disaster response and community rebuilding, Emergency Preparedness in Communities, or EPIC, will bring more than half a million dollars toward disaster preparedness for vulnerable populations in Lake and Mendocino counties.

The request for proposals process is now open and applications can be submitted until Jan. 7 at 5 p.m.

EPIC mini grants will be awarded in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $25,000.

Applicants do not have to be registered nonprofits. Any group can apply, including small businesses, schools, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, student groups, and any other group serving diverse, vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations.

Vulnerable populations include any people most likely to be seriously affected by a disaster. That could mean underserved groups like the elderly, disabled, minority ethnic or racial groups, non-English speakers, LBGTQ+, youth, or people facing homelessness.

Disaster survivors, people living in frontier communities, or living with hazards like limited evacuation routes, are also listed as vulnerable populations.

“If you know of a group that can benefit from extra support preparing for emergencies like power outages, fires or floods, or if you already work with or represent vulnerable populations, we encourage you to apply,” said Program Director Robyn Bera.

Groups that receive grants must be able to track and report their activities, who they are serving and follow a state mandated curriculum.

NCO will support grantees with training and technical support during the grant period. Grantees will also get a chance to help each other during support days hosted by NCO.

Grant applications will be assessed depending on the project and need, how many people are reached, long-term sustainability, and the groups’ ability to do the work.

In general, funding is for education and communication, not fire-fighting materials such as chippers or water tanks. No matching contributions are required.

NCO encourages applicants to work together on relevant and integrated solutions.

The online application can be found on NCO’s website on the home page, (or by clicking Disaster Response and scrolling to Disaster Preparedness).

Any questions about EPIC grants in Mendocino County may be directed to Megan Watson, EPIC coordinator, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Any questions about EPIC grants in Lake County may be directed to Tammy Alakszay, EPIC coordinator, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

NCO is the Community Action Agency that serves Lake and Mendocino Counties, as well as parts of Humboldt, Sonoma, Del Norte, and Solano Counties. NCO reacts and adjusts to community needs, including disaster response and recovery.

For more information visit www.ncoinc.org or call 707-467-3200.