FEMAs Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) in Florida
Joint Review Helps Communities Rebuild Stronger, Faster
Release Date: January 6, 2006
Release Number: LTR-06-021-Factsheet
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Long-term improvements under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, as opposed to reimbursement under recovery programs, do take time. But, by working together, Florida's Division of Emergency Management and FEMA are providing resources to communities faster than ever before.
The Challenge
In 2004, over a period of six weeks, Florida became the first state to be struck by four hurricanes in a single year since 1886.
Prior to Katrina, the 2004 storms represented the largest response and recovery operation in FEMA's history.
As Florida began to pick up the pieces, it became clear that business as usual would not cut it.
In May 2005, FEMA established the Florida Long-Term Recovery Office (FLTRO) to strengthen the agency's partnership with the state and facilitate a coordinated innovative approach to disasters.
With a record $359 million available following the 2004 hurricanes and more than 800 applications, on HMGP, that meant a joint review process.
The Process: HMGP in a Nutshell
Under HMGP, FEMA, in partnership with states, makes funding available to local governments and certain other organizations to undertake projects designed to lessen the risk of damage from disasters. The HMGP is administered by the state, with projects funded 75 percent by FEMA and 25 percent from other sources.
In Florida, local mitigation strategy committees establish funding priorities for the HMGP and select projects based on those priorities.
HMGP projects go through a six-step process:
- Step 1 - State sets priorities and application deadlines
- Step 2 - State, in partnership with FEMA, conducts applicant briefings
- Step 3 - Applicants submit project applications to the State, who selects projects for funding
- Step 4 - State and FEMA conduct joint review, which includes:
- Review for program eligibility - essentially meant to answer the question: "Does this project solve a problem HMGP is meant to address?"
- Technical feasibility and cost effectiveness review, conducted by engineering review team
- Environmental coordination and compliance review, which encompasses a number of issues, such as:
- Historic preservation concerns
- Environmental concerns including wetlands and endangered species
- Flood plain implications
- Step 5 - If reviews are satisfactory, FEMA obligates dollars to the State for approved projects
- Step 6 - State informs applicant of approval (allowing applicants to draw down funding) and project implementation begins
Action Items at All Levels: Local, State, FEMA
The key to disaster response and recovery - including long-term improvements, such as mitigation - is a strong partnership between local, state, and federal partners. On HMGP, there are action items at all levels, including:
Applicants (local level):
- Submit individual project applications to the State
- Coordinate with participating homeowners and businesses who will benefit from the proposed project
- Draw down obligated dollars from the State and manage implementation of the approved project
- Comply with all applicable requirements, including environmental regulations
- Account for the appropriate use of grants to the State
- Maintain records
State:
- Develop the State Hazard Mitigation Plan
- Establish funding priorities, and select projects for funding based on those priorities
- Establish deadlines for applications
- Conduct applicant briefings and provide technical assistance to applicants
- Ensure that the scope of work complies with all applicable requirements under HMGP regulations, as well as Federal, State, and local laws
- Notify Applicant when projects are approved and dollars are available
- Send dollars to Applicant when drawn down
- Monitor the progress of projects
- Work with Applicant to close out projects
FEMA:
- Establish minimum criteria for eligibility, and review and approve eligible projects
- Prepare the environmental decision based on information submitted by the applicant
- Provide technical assistance to the State and Applicants
- Obligate dollars for eligible projects to State
The Results
Prior to joint review, FEMA did not review applications until the State's review was complete. The State had between 12 and 18 months from the date of the disaster declaration to review projects and submit them to FEMA. While the State still takes the lead on helping applicants develop their projects, joint review is helping get dollars into communities faster.
Since FEMA and FDEM adopted the joint review process, 90 projects - to the tune of $17.3 million - have been approved a mere 14 months after the disaster declaration. As a result of the State and FEMA working closely together in the initial stages of HMGP review, the number of projects approved for Florida in this amount of time is unprecedented.
Last Modified: Friday, 06-Jan-2006 16:29:01