Federal Funding for Rebuilding Efforts
Release Date: February 6, 2006
Release Number: HQ-06-024FactSheet2
In order to encourage communities to build stronger and safer, FEMA will require States and local communities to use the post-Katrina Advisory Base Flood Elevations for Federally funded mitigation and recovery projects. This includes projects funded under FEMA’s Public Assistance and mitigation grants programs.
Public Assistance
Public Assistance Grant Program
FEMA’s Public Assistance Grant Program provides Federal funding to State and local governments, and some nonprofit organizations, to respond to, recover from and mitigate the future effects of disasters. The primary goal of the program is to help communities and their citizens recover from catastrophic disasters.
Public Assistance provides funding for the repair, replacement and/or restoration of publicly owned infrastructure. Some Private Non-Profit (PNP) entities and Federally recognized Indian Tribes are also eligible to receive funding. These include:
- medical and custodial care facilities;
- educational facilities – primary and secondary schools, as well as colleges and universities;
- emergency facilities – fire departments, rescue squads and ambulance services;
- utilities, such as water, sewer and electrical power systems;
- cultural facilities such as museums and zoos; and
- other facilities that provide health and safety services of a governmental nature.
Mitigation Grant Programs
FEMA administers three grant programs that provide funding to reduce disaster losses, and protect life and property from future disaster damages through various mitigation activities.
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
HMGP is available following a Presidential disaster declaration. Eligible applicants include States, local governments, Indian Tribal governments and some Private Non-Profit organizations. Communities may apply for HMGP assistance on behalf of affected individuals and businesses. HMGP funds must be used to reduce or eliminate losses from future disasters. Examples of appropriate projects include:
- Elevating flood-prone homes or businesses.
- Acquisition of (and either demolishing or relocating) flood-prone homes from willing owners and returning the property to open space.
- Retrofitting buildings to minimize damage from high winds, flooding, earthquakes, and other hazards.
- Minor flood control projects to project critical facilities.
HMGP funds provide 7.5 percent of disaster costs (based on Individual and Public Assistance) through grants to States and local communities to enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster. Grant applications are submitted to the State, which sets mitigation priorities and awards grants based on available funding and State criteria. FEMA conducts the final eligibility review to ensure that all projects are compliant with Federal regulations. Federal law requires States and local jurisdictions to have a mitigation plan prior to receipt of HMGP project funds. The plan identifies hazards, assesses community needs, and describes a community-wide strategy for reducing risks associated with natural disasters.
Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA)
The Flood Mitigation Assistance program provides funding to States and communities for measures that 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). The program provides grants for mitigation planning and projects with a goal of reducing claims under the NFIP.
- Planning grants are used to assess flood risks and develop Flood Mitigation Plans for reducing the risks.
- Project grants are used to implement mitigation activities that reduce flood losses to NFIP-insured properties through elevating, acquiring and demolishing or relocating NFIP-insured buildings. Project grants are available to NFIP-participating communities that have a Flood Mitigation Plan in place.
In addition, a priority of the FMA program is reducing the number of repetitive loss structures insured by the NFIP. Repetitive-loss structures are those that have sustained two or more losses, each exceeding $1000, within a ten-year period.
Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Program
The Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Program assists States, Indian Tribal governments, and local governments with cost-effective hazard mitigation activities that complement a comprehensive mitigation program. The program provides applicants with an opportunity before disasters strike to raise risk awareness and reduce disaster losses through planning and project grants. PDM grants are awarded on a nationally competitive basis.
Eligible PDM activities include:
- Elevation of existing public or private structures;
- Localized flood control projects that are designed specifically to protect critical facilities
- Protective measures for utilities
- Relocation of public or private structures
- Storm water management projects
- Structural and non-structural retrofitting
- Voluntary acquisition of real property
Last Modified: Tuesday, 07-Feb-2006 12:45:21