Severe Repetitive Loss Program
The Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) grant program was authorized by the Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004, which amended the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to provide funding to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to severe repetitive loss (SRL) structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
The definition of severe repetitive loss as applied to this program was established in section 1361A of the National Flood Insurance Act, as amended (NFIA), 42 U.S.C. 4102a. An SRL property is defined as a residential property that is covered under an NFIP flood insurance policy and:
(a) That has at least four NFIP claim payments (including building and contents) over $5,000 each, and the cumulative amount of such claims payments exceeds $20,000; or
(b) For which at least two separate claims payments (building payments only) have been made with the cumulative amount of the building portion of such claims exceeding the market value of the building.
For both (a) and (b) above, at least two of the referenced claims must have occurred within any ten-year period, and must be greater than 10 days apart.
SRL e-mail updatesFiscal Year Program Information
Unified HMA Application Period: The Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance (UHMA) application period is from June 19, 2008 through December 19, 2008. Applicants must submit an FY 2009 grant application to FEMA through the e Grants system by December 19, 2008, at 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The FY 2009 UHMA guidance has been posted and is available here for viewing.
Purpose: To reduce or eliminate claims under the NFIP through project activities that will result in the greatest savings to the National Flood Insurance Fund (NFIF).
Eligible flood mitigation project activities:
- Acquisition and demolition or relocation of at risk structures and conversion of the property to open space;
- Elevation of existing structures to at least the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) or an Advisory Base Flood Elevation (ABFE) or higher. For the SRL program only, mitigation reconstruction is permitted only when traditional elevation cannot be implemented;
- Minor physical localized flood reduction projects; and
- Dry floodproofing (historic properties only).
Federal / Non-Federal cost share: 75 / 25 %; up to 90 % Federal cost-share funding for projects approved in States, Territories, and Federally-recognized Indian tribes with FEMA-approved Standard or Enhanced Mitigation Plans or Indian tribal plans that include a strategy for mitigating existing and future SRL properties.
SRL Tools
The below SRL Tools have been created for State and Local Governments to implementation the SRL Program:
SRL Tools Overview
The SRL Tools Overview provides a brief definition of the documents listed in the SRL Tools section. These tools have been created to assist in the implementation of the Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) Pilot Program.
SRL Flow Chart
The SRL Flow Chart is a visual representation of the SRL process. The flow chart begins with FEMA’s publication of 44 CFR Part 79 (the SRL regulation) and ends with the appeal process. This flowchart was created using the Microsoft Visio application and can be printed via Word using legal sized paper.Model Pre-Award Consultation Agreement
The consultation process is a required notification and information gathering process for the subapplicant interested in submitting an SRL project application to the Applicant. The goal of the consultation process is to notify the property owner that his or her property has been selected for the program; to collect sufficient information about the property; to advise the property owner that the subapplicant will include his or her property in the SRL subapplication; and that there are potential consequences of declining a mitigation offer.The Model Pre-Award Consultation Agreement is a tool to document all of the above. The consultation process does not represent a formal offer of mitigation assistance. This agreement is not a guarantee that the property owner will receive an offer of mitigation assistance from the local government.
Although this is a model document, the language included in the Model Pre-Award Consultation Agreement is approved by FEMA. Any changes to this document will require FEMA pre-approval. Pre-Award Consultation Checklist The Pre-Award Consultation Checklist can be used to guide the local government through the Pre-Award Consultation process with SRL property owners and assist in completing the Pre-Award Consultation Agreement.
Notice of Voluntary Interest Sample 1
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Notice of Voluntary Interest Sample 2
The Notice of Voluntary Interest is a document that informs the property owner that neither the Applicant nor the subapplicant will use its eminent domain authority to acquire the property for open space purposes should the property owner choose not to participate. This document should be completed as early in project development as feasible. The Pre-Award Consultation Agreement may substitute the Notice of Voluntary Interest.Model Mitigation Offer Letter
The Mitigation Offer process will occur once FEMA has awarded the grant to the State and the State has awarded the subgrant to the local government. The Model Mitigation Offer Letter is the formal offer of mitigation assistance. The goal of the Mitigation Offer process is to provide the property owner with all details of the offer of mitigation assistance leading to the acceptance of the mitigation offer. The SRL program differs from FEMA’s other mitigation grant programs because a property owner who declines the mitigation offer of assistance may experience increases to his or her National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) insurance premium rate. Although this is a model document, the language included in the Model Mitigation Offer Letter is approved by FEMA. Any changes to this document will require FEMA pre-approval.The National Flood Mitigation Data Collection Tool (FEMA 497 and FEMA 497 CD / May 2005)
The National Flood Mitigation Data Collection Tool (referred to as the National Tool or “NT”) was developed for nationwide use (primarily for State and local governments) to gather information about floodprone structures in order to determine potentially appropriate long-term mitigation measures. The ultimate goal of the NT is to provide a standardized, systematic approach to collecting and interpreting property data, and mitigation project development. While the focus of the NT is on data collection for repetitive loss properties, it can be used to gather information related to flood risk, building construction, and building value for any structure. FEMA 497 was developed to provide instructions and installation/software requirements for using the NT. The NT also allows the user to make changes to the information that is currently recorded with the NFIP. FEMA recognizes that addresses linked to past and present claim records and NFIP policies may be vague or outdated. Similarly, past addressing practices may cause the data associated with repetitive loss properties to be linked with the wrong structure. Several repetitive loss properties have been mitigated from the 100-year flood or have been provided with a lesser degree of protection. If noted, and documented appropriately within the NT, any updated or corrected data captured may be revised by the NFIP.
Selecting Appropriate Mitigation Measures for Floodprone Structures (FEMA 551 / March 2007)
FEMA 551 provides guidance on how to interpret data collected with the National Flood Mitigation Data Collection Tool (referred to as the National Tool or “NT”) and other sources to develop detailed proposals for flood mitigation projects. The manual was designed to explain the data in a manner that is easily understood. The intended users of FEMA 551 are State and local officials with the responsibility to reduce or eliminate risk of property damage and human suffering due to flooding. The purpose of FEMA 551 is to assist local officials when working with other community officials and property owners to implement projects that reduce or eliminate the identified risks, also referred to as “mitigation projects” This manual is most useful when the community has already completed the mitigation planning process, when specific structures and/or areas considered high priority for mitigation (due to recurrent, significant flooding) have been identified and local officials are looking to identify specific mitigation measures to meet these priorities. In addition, the manual identifies technical issues associated with many mitigation techniques and other documents are referenced that provide more detailed guidance on conducting structure analyses and assessments.Statement of Voluntary Participation for Mitigation Grant Programs
The Statement of Voluntary Participation for Mitigation Grant Programs documents more formally the Notice of Voluntary Interest described above, as well as documenting required property valuation notices and offer amount.
Model Acknowledgement of Conditions for Mitigation in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA)
The status of flood insurance for properties included in project subapplications situated in an SFHA is subject to FEMA review prior to award. Applicants receiving assistance for properties remaining in an SFHA will ensure that the flood insurance requirements are met by requesting the participating property owner(s) sign an Acknowledgement of Conditions for Mitigation of Property in an SFHA with FEMA Grant Funds document and providing the form to FEMA prior to award.
Although this is a model document, the language included in the Model Acknowledgement of Conditions for Mitigation in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) is approved by FEMA. Any changes to this document will require FEMA pre-approval.
Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Model Deed Restriction
Applications requesting mitigation assistance to acquire properties for open space purposes must include a copy of the deed restriction language proposed to meet these requirements and must be included with the submitted application. Subapplicants requesting assistance for a real property acquisition or building relocation must apply specific deed restriction language to all acquired properties to ensure it will be maintained as open space and consistent with natural floodplain functions in perpetuity.
Although the HMA Model Deed Restriction is model language for a deed restriction, the language is approved by FEMA. Any changes to this language will require FEMA pre-approval.
Application Development
FEMA's mitigation grants, including SRL, are provided to eligible Applicant States/Tribes/Territories that, in turn, provide sub-grants to local governments. The Applicant selects and prioritizes applications developed and submitted to them by local jurisdictions to submit to FEMA for grant funds.
Prospective Sub-applicants should consult the official designated point of contact for their Applicant State/Tribe/Territory for further information regarding specific program and application requirements:
State Hazard Mitigation Officers
Additional information for FEMA mitigation grant activities, including project development and pre-award requirements, is available on the Grant Applicant Resources web page.
Application Process
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State, Tribal, and territorial Applicants MUST use FEMA's Electronic Grants Management System (eGrants) to submit SRL grant applications to FEMA. Only SRL grant applications submitted through the eGrants system will be accepted.
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If a state agency, Tribal, or local Sub-applicant does not use the eGrants system to submit their project sub-application(s) to the Applicant, then the Applicant must enter the Sub-applicant’s paper sub-application(s) into the eGrants system on their behalf.
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Applicants must provide an original and two copies of any paper supporting documentation that cannot be electronically attached to the eGrants application (e.g., engineering drawings, photos, maps) to the appropriate Regional Office by the application deadline
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Additional information regarding the eGrants system is available on the Mitigation eGrants System web page.
FEMA will provide assistance to Applicants and Sub-applicants during the application period. Additional information for FEMA mitigation grant activities, including project development and pre-award requirements, is available on the Grant Applicant Resources web page.
Additional Grant Programs
Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA)
Provides funding to assist States and communities in implementing measures to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to buildings, manufactured homes, and other structures insured under the NFIP.
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
Provides grants to States and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration.
Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program (PDM)
Provides funds to states, territories, Indian tribal governments, communities, and universities for hazard mitigation planning and the implementation of mitigation projects prior to a disaster event.
Repetitive Flood Claims (RFC)
Provides funding to States and communities to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to structures insured under the NFIP that have had one or more claims for flood damages, and that can not meet the requirements of the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program for either cost share or capacity to manage the activities.
Last Modified: Monday, 30-Jun-2008 13:46:00 EDT