Mitigation Grants Help To Build A Disaster Resistant Future For Florida
Release Date: December 4, 2004
Release Number: 1539-298
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ORLANDO, Fla. -- With the official 2004 hurricane season ended, federal and state disaster recovery officials are making plans to reduce or eliminate a repeat of the widespread destruction experienced as a result of Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Jeanne and Ivan.
“Lessons learned from the four hurricanes in just 44 days will be incorporated into local and state long-term hazard mitigation plans,” said State Coordinating Officer Craig Fugate, of the State Emergency Response Team (SERT).
Federal Coordinating Officer Bill Carwile pointed out that mitigation funding yet to be tabulated as a result of the 2004 season will have positive long-term implications.
“From the total federal disaster assistance funding approved for the hurricanes, 7.5 percent will be set aside for mitigation,” Carwile said.
To date, nearly $3 billion has been approved for recovery assistance.
“With mitigation resources to come, no stone will be left unturned to minimize future property, infrastructure and economic losses caused by disasters. Our goal is to set an example in Florida in taming Mother Nature’s recurrent rage by building better, stronger and smarter,” said Fugate.
Carwile said mitigation is the cornerstone of emergency management. “After helping people recover from a hurricane, mitigating damage from future storms ranks as our most important challenge.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has three mitigation programs: The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), the Pre-disaster Mitigation Program (PDM) and the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program. The State of Florida Department of Community Affairs, Division of Emergency Management, administers these programs.
HMGP provides grants to states and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation after a major disaster declaration. The purpose is to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and to enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the recovery from a disaster.
FMA provides funding to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to buildings, manufactured homes, and other insurable properties under the National Flood Insurance Program.
The PDM program provides technical and financial assistance to local governments for cost-effective pre-disaster hazard mitigation activities that compliment mitigation programs to reduce injuries, loss of life, damage and destruction to property.
By law, federal HMGP funds provide 75 percent of the allowable costs of eligible projects. Non-federal sources make up the remaining 25 percent share. Eligible applicants are state and local governments, Indian tribes or other tribal organizations, and certain non-profit organizations.
Persons wishing to obtain more information about mitigation may visit the FEMA Web site, www.fema.gov.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA’s continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 07-Dec-2004 08:41:39