The Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant ... - FloodSmart.gov

ProgramMitigationRethinking Information the NFIPThe Unified Hazard Mitigation AssistanceGrant ProgramsHazard MitigationAssistanceThe Department of HomelandSecurity (DHS) Federal EmergencyManagement Agency (FEMA)Hazard Mitigation Assistance(HMA) programs present acritical opportunity to reduce therisk to individuals and propertyfrom natural hazards whilesimultaneously reducing relianceon Federal disaster funds.A Common GoalWhile the statutory origins of theprograms differ, all share thecommon goal of reducing the riskof loss of life and property due tonatural hazards.Funding DisasterRecovery EffortsThe Hazard Mitigation GrantProgram (HMGP) may providefunds to States, Territories,Indian Tribal governments, localgovernments, and eligible privatenon-profits following a Presidentialmajor disaster declaration.The Hazard Mitigation GrantProgram (HMGP) is authorized bySection 404 of the RobertT. Stafford DisasterRelief and EmergencyAssistance Act, as amended(the Stafford Act), Title42, United States Code(U.S.C.) 5170c. The keypurpose of HMGP is to ensure that theopportunity to take critical mitigationmeasures to reduce the risk of loss of lifeand property from future disasters is notlost during the reconstruction processfollowing a disaster. HMGP is available,when authorized under a Presidentialmajor disaster declaration, in the areasof the State requested by the Governor.The amount of HMGP funding availableto the Applicant is based upon the totalFederal assistance to be provided byFEMA for disaster recovery under thePresidential major disaster declaration.The Pre‐Disaster Mitigation (PDM)program is authorized bySection 203 of the StaffordAct, 42 U.S.C. 5133. ThePDM program is designedto assist States, Territories,Indian Tribal governments,and local communities inimplementing a sustained pre‐disasternatural hazard mitigation program toreduce overall risk to the population andstructures from future hazard events,while also reducing reliance on Federalfunding from future disasters.The Flood Mitigation Assistance(FMA) program is authorized by Section1366 of the NationalFlood Insurance Act of1968, as amended (NFIA),42 U.S.C. 4104c, withthe goal of reducingor eliminating claimsunder the National FloodInsurance Program (NFIP).The Repetitive Flood Claims (RFC)program is authorized bySection 1323 of the NFIA,42 U.S.C. 4030, with thegoal of reducing flooddamages to individualproperties for which oneor more claim paymentsfor losses have been made under floodinsurance coverage and that will result inthe greatest savings to the National FloodInsurance Fund (NFIF) in the shortestperiod of time.The Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL)program is authorizedby Section 1361A ofthe NFIA, 42 U.S.C.4102a, with the goal ofreducing flood damages toresidential properties thathave experienced severerepetitive losses under flood insurancecoverage and that will result in thegreatest amount of savings to the NFIF inthe shortest period of time.Additional HMA resources, including the HMA Unified Guidance, may be accessed atwww.fema.gov/government/grant/hma/index.shtm

Program ComparisonsAvailable FundingPDM, FMA, RFC, and SRL aresubject to the availability ofappropriations funding, as wellas any directive or restrictionmade with respect to suchfunds.HMGP funding depends onFederal assistance provided fordisaster recovery.General RequirementsAll mitigation projectsmust be cost-effective,be both engineering andtechnically feasible, andmeet Environmental Planningand Historic Preservationrequirements in accordancewith HMA Unified Guidance.In addition, all mitigationactivities must adhere to allrelevant statutes, regulations,and requirements includingother applicable Federal, State,Indian Tribal, and local laws,implementing regulations, andExecutive Orders.All Applicants andsubapplicants must havehazard mitigation plans thatmeet the requirements of 44CFR Part 201.Cost SharingIn general, HMA funds may be used to pay up to 75 percent of the eligible activitycosts. The remaining 25 percent of eligible costs are derived from non-Federal sources.The table below outlines the Federal and State cost share requirements.COST SHARE REQUIREMENTSProgramsMitigation Activity Grant(Percent of Federal/Non-Federal Share)HMGP 75/25PDM 75/25PDM (subgrantee is small impoverished community) 90/10PDM (Tribal grantee is small impoverished community) 90/10FMA 75/25FMA (severe repetitive loss property with RepetitiveLoss Strategy)90/10RFC 100/0SRL 75/25SRL (with Repetitive Loss Strategy) 90/10Eligible Applicants and SubapplicantsStates, Territories, and Indian Tribal governments are eligible HMA Applicants. EachState, Territory, and Indian Tribal government shall designate one agency to serve asthe Applicant for each HMA program. All interested subapplicants must apply to theApplicant.The table below identifies, in general, eligible subapplicants.ELIGIBLE SUBAPPLICANTSSubapplicants HMGP PDM FMA RFC SRLState agencies ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔Indian Tribal governments ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔Local governments/communities ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔Private non-profit organizations (PNPs)✔ = Subapplicant is eligible for program fundingIndividuals and businesses are not eligible to apply for HMA funds, however, aneligible subapplicant may apply for funding to mitigate private structures. RFC fundsare only available to subapplicants who cannot meet the cost share requirements of theFMA program.✔

Eligible ActivitiesThe table below summarizes eligible activities that may be funded by HMAprograms. Detailed descriptions of these activities can be found in the HMAUnified Guidance.ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIESMitigation Activities HMGP PDM FMA RFC SRL1. Mitigation Projects ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔Property Acquisition andStructure Demolition orRelocation✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔Structure Elevation ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔Mitigation ReconstructionDry Floodproofing of HistoricResidential StructuresDry Floodproofing of Non-Residential StructuresMinor Localized Flood ReductionProjectsStructural Retrofitting of ExistingBuildingsNon-Structural Retrofitting ofExisting Buildings and FacilitiesSafe Room Construction ✔ ✔Infrastructure Retrofit ✔ ✔Soil Stabilization ✔ ✔Wildfire Mitigation ✔ ✔Post-Disaster Code Enforcement5% Initiative Projects ✔✔✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔✔ ✔ ✔ ✔✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔2. Hazard Mitigation Planning ✔ ✔ ✔3. Management Costs ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔✔ = Mitigation activity is eligible for program fundingManagement CostsFor HMGP only: The Grantee may request up to 4.89 percent of the HMGPallocation for management costs. The Grantee is responsible for determining theamount, if any, of funds that will be passed through to the subgrantee(s) for theirmanagement costs.Applicants for PDM, FMA, RFC, or SRL may apply for a maximum of 10percent of the total funds requested in their grant application budget (Federal andnon‐Federal shares) for management costs to support the project and planningsubapplications included as part of their grant application.Subapplicants for PDM, FMA, RFC, or SRL may apply for a maximum of5 percent of the total funds requested in a subapplication for management costs.✔✔✔✔✔National Flood InsuranceProgram (NFIP)ParticipationThere area numberof waysthat HMAeligibility isrelated tothe NFIP:SUBAPPLICANT ELIGIBILITY: Allsubapplicants for FMA, RFC, orSRL must currently be participatingin the NFIP, and not withdrawn orsuspended, to be eligible to applyfor grant funds. Certain nonparticipatingpolitical subdivisions(i.e., regional flood control districtsor county governments) may applyand act as subgrantee on behalf ofthe NFIP-participating community inareas where the political subdivisionprovides zoning and building codeenforcement or planning andcommunity development professionalservices for that community.PROJECT ELIGIBILITY: HMGPand PDM mitigation projectsubapplications for projects sitedwithin a Special Flood HazardArea (SFHA) are eligible only if thejurisdiction in which the projectis located is participating in theNFIP. There is no NFIP participationrequirement for HMGP and PDMproject subapplications locatedoutside of the SFHA.PROPERTY ELIGIBILITY:Properties included in a projectsubapplication for FMA, RFC, andSRL funding must be NFIP-insured atthe time of the application submittal.Flood insurance must be maintainedat least through completion of themitigation activity.

Application ProcessApplications for HMGP are processed through theNational Emergency Management Information System(NEMIS). Applicants use the Application DevelopmentModule of NEMIS, which enables each Applicant tocreate project applications and submit them to theappropriate FEMA Region in digital format for therelevant disaster.Applications for PDM, FMA, RFC, and SRL areprocessed through a web-based, electronic grantsmanagement system (eGrants), which encompasses theentire grant application process. The eGrants systemallows Applicants and subapplicants to apply for andmanage their mitigation grant application processeselectronically. Applicants and subapplicants can accesseGrants at https://portal.fema.gov.Application DeadlineThe PDM, FMA, RFC, and SRL application period isfrom early June through early December. Applicantsmust submit a grant application to FEMA through theeGrants system. The HMGP application deadline is 12months after the disaster declaration date and is notpart of the annual application period. Details can befound in the HMA Unified Guidance.FEMA Review and SelectionAll subapplications will be reviewed for eligibility andcompleteness, cost‐effectiveness, engineering feasibilityand effectiveness, and for Environmental Planning andHistorical Preservation compliance. Subapplicationsthat do not pass these reviews will not be considered forfunding. FEMA will notify Applicants of the status oftheir subapplications and will work with Applicants onsubapplications identified for further review.Details aboutthe HMA GrantApplication processcan be found in theHazard MitigationAssistance UnifiedGuidance, whichis available atwww.fema.gov/government/grant/hma/index.shtmGovDelivery NotificationsStay up-to-date on the HMA Grant Programs by subscribing to GovDelivery notifications.Have updates delivered to an e-mail address or mobile device. To learn more, visit www.fema.govContact InformationHMA Helpline: Tel 866-222-3580, or e-mail hmagrantshelpline@dhs.govContact information for FEMA Regional Offices is provided atwww.fema.gov/about/contact/regions.shtmContact information for each State Hazard Mitigation Officer (SHMO)is provided at www.fema.gov/about/contact/shmo.shtm