Mitigation Division

An Overview

FEMA's Region III Mitigation Division, under the leadership of Director Gene Gruber, strives to create safer communities by reducing the risks to loss of life and property.  Mitigation measures enable individuals to recover more quickly from floods and other disasters and lessen the financial impact of disasters on the nation.

Operationally and to best accomplish its mission, the division is comprised of three major components: risk analysis, floodplain management and insurance, and hazard mitigation.

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Risk Analysis Branch

Jon Janowicz - Branch Chief

Risk analysis promotes disaster resilience by enabling individuals and communities to recover more rapidly from floods and other disasters through effective risk analysis and hazard mitigation planning. Among the programs administered by this branch:

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Floodplain Management and Insurance Branch

Marty Frengs - Branch Chief

The Floodplain Management and Insurance Branch administers the floodplain management and insurance aspects of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).  These programs focus on state and local building codes and zoning regulations to assure that new development and substantial improvements located in a floodplain are constructed to prevent or minimize future flood damage.  Under the insurance part of the program, this office provides oversight of flood insurance training programs and outreach efforts for insurance agents, lenders and property owners throughout the region. The following program areas are within the Floodplain Management and Insurance Branch:

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Hazard Mitigation Assistance Branch

Nancy Carpenter - Branch Chief

Risk reduction creates safer communities by proactively reducing risk and enhancing the capability of states and local communities to reduce their risk from natural hazards. FEMA has authority for five Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs with unique statutory authorities, program requirements and triggers for funding. The programs are the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM), Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA), Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL), and Repetitive Flood Claims (RFC). They all share a common goal-to assist state and local communities in their efforts to reduce the loss of life and property from future natural hazard events.

The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Acts of 2006 and 2007, Public Law 109-90 and 109-295, jointly provided a total of $80 million for the SRL program. The President's budget request for FY 2008 asks for  additional funding for the SRL program for nationwide projects.

SRL Tool-Kit

State Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) Contacts

Homeowners interested in having their property considered for a mitigation project under this program, should contact their local community official or state SRL contact list below:

Delaware

Michael Powell
Department of Natural Resources / Environmental Control
Division of Soil  / Water Conservation
89 Kings Highway
Dover, DE 19901
Phone: (302) 739-9921
Fax: (302) 739-6724
E-Mail: Michael.Powell@state.de.us
Web Page: www.swc.dnrec.delaware.gov/

Maryland

J. Carver Struve
State Hazard Mitigation Officer
Maryland Emergency Management Agency
State Emergency Operations Center
5401 Rue Saint Lo Drive
Reisterstown, MD  21136
Phone: (410) 517-3624
Fax: (410) 517-3610
E-Mail: cstruve@mema.state.md.us
Web Page: www.mema.state.md.us

Pennsylvania

David Bollinger
State Hazard Mitigation Officer    
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
2605 Interstate Drive
P.O. Box 3221
Harrisburg, PA 17105-3221
Phone: (717) 651-2726
Fax: (717) 651-2240
E-Mail: dbollinger@state.pa.us
Web Page: www.pema.state.pa.us

Virginia

Deborah Mills
State Hazard Mitigation Officer 
Department of Emergency Management
10501 Trade Court
Richmond, VA 23236-3713
Phone: (804) 897-6500, ext. 6563
Fax: (804) 897-6526
E-Mail: Deborah.Mills@vdem.virginia.gov
Web Page: www.vdem.state.va.us

West Virginia

Glora Crouch
State Hazard Mitigation Officer
West Virginia Office of Emergency Services
Building 1, Room EB-80
1900 Kanawha Blvd., East
Charleston, WV 25305
Phone: (304) 558-5380
Fax: (304) 344-4538
E-Mail: glora.a.crouch@wv.gov
Web Page: www.state.wv.us/wvoes

FEMA Region III Point-of-Contact

Program related questions can be addressed by contacting the regional  staff listed below:

David Odegard, CFM
Insurance Specialist
Mitigation Division
Region III
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Federal Emergency Management Agency
One Independent Mall, Sixth Floor
615 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106-4404
Phone: (215) 931-5506
Fax: (215) 931-5501
E-Mail: david.odegard@dhs.gov
 
Richard Rein
Hazard Mitigation Officer
Mitigation Division
Region III
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Federal Emergency Management Agency
One Independent Mall, Sixth Floor
615 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106-4404
Phone: (215) 931-5532
Fax: (215) 931-5501
E-Mail: richard.rein@dhs.gov

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Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) Program

Kate McManus - Regional Environmental Officer

The Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) program integrates the protection and enhancement of environmental, historic, and cultural resources into FEMA's mission, programs and activities. It ensures that FEMA's activities including facility management, its Public and Individual Assistance programs, and all Hazard Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness grants comply with federal environmental and historic preservation laws and executive orders. EHP also provides environmental and historic preservation technical assistance to FEMA staff, local, sate and federal partners.

Point-of-Contact

Kate McManus
Regional Environmental Officer
Region III
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Federal Emergency Management Agency
One Independent Mall, Sixth Floor
615 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106-4404
Phone: (215) 931-5510
Fax: (215) 931-5501
E-Mail: kate.mcmanus@dhs.gov

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Last Modified: Friday, 15-Feb-2008 13:50:00 EST