FEMA And State Schedule Briefings For Local Officials On Hazard Mitigation Grant Program 

Release Date: November 14, 2005
Release Number: 1603-154

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BATON ROUGE, La. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the state of Louisiana are holding briefings for local officials to explain th e process of applying for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) for mitigation projects. The briefings are scheduled to start Monday, Nov. 14, 2005, at 8:30 a.m.

"These briefings are designed to help local officials understand eligibility requirements and to learn how our program works," said Col. Jeff Smith, state coordinating officer. "We have a responsibility to ensure federal, state, and local dollars are used appropriately."

The HMGP reduces the loss of life and property in future disasters by funding mitigation measures during and after the recovery phase of a natural disaster. Eligible applicants include: states, local governments, Indian tribes, and certain private non-profit organizations. Individuals or businesses cannot apply directly to the state or FEMA, but eligible local governments or private non-profit applicants can apply on their behalf.

"All Louisiana parishes are eligible to apply," said Scott Wells, deputy federal coordinating officer. "But priority will be given to the disaster-declared parishes."

The first $250 million dollars of the HMGP funds will be applied to three areas: severe repetitive loss of structures, substantially damaged structures, and mitigation planning. Grants can be used to fund projects that will reduce or eliminate the losses from future disasters and can be used to pay up to 75 percent of the eligible project costs. Projects must provide a long-term solution to a problem, for example, elevating a home to reduce the risk of flood damages rather than buying sandbags and pumps to fight the flood.

Briefings will be held at nine locations around the state including Alexandria , Baton Rouge , Metairie, Lake Charles , Bossier City , Crowley , Houma , Mandeville and Winnsboro by video teleconference. There will be time at the end of the teleconference for a question and answer session.

FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003

Last Modified: Monday, 14-Nov-2005 10:44:05