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| 97.029 FLOOD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE |
| (FMA) |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994, Title V, Sections 553 and 554, Public Law 103-325, 42 U.S.C. 5154a. |
| OBJECTIVES |
| 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 insurable under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Project Grants. |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| States are encouraged to use FMA planning, project and technical assistance grants to reduce the number of repetitive loss structures insured by the NFIP. More specifically, the emphasis is on reducing target repetitive loss properties that include structures with four or more losses, and structures with two or more losses where cumulative payments have exceeded the property value. Planning Grants may be used to assist States and communities in developing and updating Flood Mitigation Plans. Eligible activities under this grant are: conducting local planning discussions, contracting for consulting technical services such as engineering and planning; surveying structures at risk; and assessing structures subject to repetitive flood loss. There are several restrictions on Planning Grants. Planning Grants will not exceed a maximum of $1,500,000 nationally each year. A Planning Grant will not be awarded to a State or a community more than one every 5 years. Individual Planning Grants will not exceed $150,000 to any State applicant, or exceed $50,000 to any community applicant. The total planning grant made in any fiscal year to any State, including communities located in the State will not exceed $300,000. Project Grants may be used to assist States and communities in implementing flood mitigation projects to reduce the risk of flood damage to structures insured or insurable under the National Flood Insurance Program. Eligible activities under this grant include the acquisition, relocation, or elevation of insured structures. Only mitigation activities specified in a FEMA-approved Flood Mitigation Plan are eligible for an FMA Project Grant. There are several restrictions on Project Grants. The combined total of project and technical assistance awarded to the State and all communities in that State is limited to $20,000,000 in a 5-year period. There are also limits on the amount of Project Grant funds that any one State or community can receive in a 5-year period. States can receive individual grants not totaling more than $10,000,000 in a 5-year period. Communities can receive individual project grants not totaling more than $3,300,000 in a 5-year period. Up to 10 percent of Project Grant allocations annually may be used for Technical Assistance. The only applicants eligible for Technical Assistance Grants are State agencies or departments responsible for administering FMA. Eligible activities under this grant are: conducting community site visits; reviewing draft applications or plans; participating in planning meetings; providing planning workshops/materials; and, providing grants management workshops/ materials. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| Eligible applicants Technical Assistance Grants are State agencies or departments that are responsible for administering the FMA program. Eligible applicants for Planning Grants are States and communities participating in the NFIP. Suspended communities or communities on probation under the NFIP are not eligible. Eligible applicants for Project Grants are States and communities participating in the NFIP, and with a FEMA-approved Flood Mitigation Plan. Suspended communities or communities on probation under the NFIP are not eligible. |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| States and communities. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| Grant awards will be determined in accordance with OMB Circulars No. A-102 and No. A-87 for State and local governments. Awards made to Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Non-Profit Organizations will be required to follow the requirements of OMB Circulars No. A-110 and No. A-21. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| Application Process for FMA Project Grants: States apply through grant negotiation. State FMA point of contact reviews and prioritizes applications. FEMA reviews and ensures projects meet environmental regulations and minimum eligibility requirements. FEMA allocates the FMA grants for planning, technical assistance, and projects annually to each FEMA region for distribution among States that have requested participation in the program. For a State to receive funds, it should request participation in the FMA during its annual grant negotiation with the FEMA Regional Office. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or officials designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. |
| Application Procedure |
| The State applies through the annual grant negotiation. The State point of contact reviews, prioritizes, and selects applications from community for funding planning and project grants; FEMA reviews and ensures that projects meet environmental regulations and minimum eligibility requirements. Forms Required: A State Flood Mitigation Plan, SF 424 Application for Federal Assistance, Program Narrative, 20-20 Budget Information-Construction Programs, 20-16(A)-(C) Assurances and Certifications, and SF-LLL Lobbying Disclosure. |
| Award Procedure |
| State applies through grant negotiation, State reviews, prioritizes, and selects applications from community for funding Planning and Project Grants. Director allocates funds to the State, and the State distributes them to the community. |
| Deadlines |
| The FEMA Regional Director will notify States regarding the program schedule at the beginning of each fiscal year. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| Not applicable. |
| Appeals |
| Not applicable. |
| Renewals |
| Not applicable. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| The FEMA Director allocates available funds for FMA each fiscal year in a lump sum to each FEMA Region for distribution to the States and communities. Under the current formula, each State and territory receives a base amount of $10,000 for Planning, and $100,000 for Projects. The remaining funds are distributed based on the number of NFIP policies, repetitive loss structures, and other such criteria as the Director may determine in furtherance of the disaster resistant community concept. FEMA may contribute up to 75 percent of the cost of eligible activities. The remaining percent must be met by matching requirements from State government or other nonfederal funding sources. Up to one-half of the nonfederal share may be met by in-kind contributions from third parties. The remaining half of the nonfederal share must be met by State and local government expenditures and cash funds identified at the time of application. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| The average performance period for FMA grants is generally 2 years, but may be extended once for planning grants and twice for project grants. |
| Reports |
| Performance reports are due 30 days after the end of the second quarter (April 30) and 30 days after the end of the fourth quarter (October 30). The final performance report is due 90 days after the expiration or termination of grant support if there is a change to the October financial report. Financial reports are due 30 days after the end of each quarter. Final financial and performance reports are due 90 days after the expiration or termination of grant support. |
| Audits |
| In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. |
| Records |
| Grant records include financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical records, and other records of recipient or subrecipient which are required to be maintained by 44 CFR Part 13.42, program regulations or the grant agreement. Grant records shall be retained for a period of 3 years from the day the recipient submits its final expenditure report. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit, or other action involving the records has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records must be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues which arise from it, or until the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later. |
| Account Identification |
| 70-0701-0-1-453. |
| Obligations |
| FY 07 $31,000,000; FY 08 est. not available; and FY 09 $ est. not available. |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| Not available. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| Program accomplishments are published in a Biennial Report to Congress as required under Section 554 of the National Flood Insurance Reform Act (NFIRA). This report is available from Ms. Margaret E. Lawless. Director, Mitigation Planning and Delivery Division, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472. Telephone: (202) 646-4621. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| None. |
| Regional or Local Office |
| See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a listing of addresses of FEMA's Regional Offices. |
| Headquarters Office |
| Department of Homeland Security, 245 Murray Lane Building #410, Washington, DC 20528. |
| Web Site Address |
| http://www.dhs.gov |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| None. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| Program accomplishments, including examples of funded projects, are published in a Biennial Report to Congress as required under Section 554 of the National Flood Insurance Reform Act (NFIRA). This report is available from Ms. Margaret E. Lawless, Director, Mitigation Planning and Delivery Division, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472. Telephone: (202) 646-4621. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| Project Grants: Minimum Project Eligibility Criteria: The extent to which proposals are cost effective, conform with applicable Federal and State regulations and executive orders, are technically feasible, conform with the Flood Mitigation Plan, are physically located in an eligible community, or benefit such a community directly. Planning Grants are selected based on whether proposals are for eligible activities such as: conducting local planning discussions; contracting for consulting technical services such as engineering and planning; surveying structures at risk; and assessing structures subject to repetitive flood loss. Technical Assistance Grants are selected based on whether proposals are for eligible activities such as: conducting community site visits; reviewing draft applications and plans; participating in planning meetings; providing planning workshops/materials; and, providing grants management workshops/materials. |
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General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
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