Indian Tribal Government Fact Sheet

What is the Pre-Disaster Mitigation program?

FEMA's Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program will provide funds to states, Indian tribal governments, territories, and communities for hazard mitigation planning and the implementation of mitigation projects prior to a disaster event.  The PDM program provides a significant opportunity to raise risk awareness and reduces the nation's disaster losses through pre-disaster mitigation planning and the implementation of cost-effective mitigation measures.  The PDM program was authorized by Section 203 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Assistance and Emergency Relief Act (Stafford Act), 42 U.S.C. 5133 to assist states and communities to implement a sustained pre-disaster natural hazard mitigation program to reduce overall risk to the population and structures, while also reducing reliance on Federal funding from actual disaster declarations.

Back To Top

Are Indian tribes eligible to apply for the PDM program?

Federally-recognized Indian tribal governments are eligible to apply for PDM funds either as an Applicant directly to FEMA, or as a Sub-applicant to a state/territory emergency management agency.  (This choice is independent of a designation under other FEMA grants and programs.)

State-recognized Indian tribes, authorized Indian tribal organizations, Alaska Native villages, and Indian tribal colleges and universities are eligible to apply for PDM funds only as a Sub-applicant to a state/territorial emergency management agency.

Back To Top

How does my Indian tribal government apply for the PDM program?

Federally-recognized Indian tribal governments that choose to apply as Applicants directly to FEMA must use the electronic grants (eGrants) management system: portal.fema.gov to submit a PDM Grant Application to FEMA by the application deadline. To submit a grant application, the Tribal Applicant must: 1) create planning, project, and technical assistance/management costs sub-applications under the Grant Applicant Acting As Subgrant Applicant section of the Grantee Homepage in eGrants; 2) review and approve Tribal Sub-applicant's sub-applications, if any, using the Review Submitted Sub-applications link under the Sub-grant Applications section; 3) create a PDM grant application using the Create New Grant Applicationlink under the Grant Applications section; 4) attach approved sub-applications to the PDM grant application in the Sub-applications section of the grant application; 5) give each sub-application attached to their PDM grant application a unique rank (NOTE: The Applicant's priority ranking of sub-applications is the highest weighted factor in the PDM National Ranking process.); 6) submit the PDM grant application to FEMA.

The Grant Applicant Quick Reference Guide provides further details on the eGrants system. In addition, FEMA has established an eGrants Helpdesk to provide technical assistance to Applicants and Sub-applicants completing sub-applications and grant applications in the eGrants system. The eGrants Helpdesk can be reached via telephone: 1-866-476-0544 or e-mail: mtegrants@dhs.gov. Standard hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time. Hours may be extended during the application period.

Indian tribal governments applying as Sub-applicants to a state/territorial emergency management agency must submit planning and/or project sub-application(s) to their state/territory for consideration in accordance with the state/territory's PDM application process. Sub-applicants should consult the State Hazard Mitigation Officer for their state/territory for more information regarding the application process. The Subgrant Applicant Quick Reference Guide provides information on how to create planning and project sub-applications and submit them to the state.

Both the Grant Applicant Quick Reference Guide and the Subgrant Applicant Quick Reference Guide are available from the FEMA Information Resources Library.

Back To Top

How does my Indian tribal government access FEMA’s electronic grants system?

Because FEMA’s electronic grants (eGrants) management system is web-based, you must have Internet access and e-mail service.  You must register to become an eGrants user. 

Federally-recognized Indian tribal governments applying as Applicants directly to FEMA should contact the PDM Coordinator in your FEMA Regional Office to request a Tribal Applicant Access Code for eGrants registration.  If the Indian tribal government has tribal sub-organizations within the Indian tribe that would apply to the Tribe as Sub-applicants, the Tribe should also request a Tribal Sub-applicant Access Code to provide to their tribal sub-organizations for eGrants registration.

Indian tribes applying as Sub-applicants to a state/territorial emergency management agency should contact the State Hazard Mitigation Officer in the relevant state to request a Tribal Sub-applicant Access Code for eGrants.

After receiving an eGrants Access Code, the Tribe should go to the eGrants website: portal.fema.gov to register as a new user.  Once the registration is submitted, the entity that provided the eGrants Access Code (i.e., either FEMA or the state) must approve the registration.  A confirmation e-mail will be received once registration is approved.  Approved Tribal Applicants approve their Tribal Sub-applicant registrations under the “Administration” link on the Grantee Homepage and clicking on the “Pending User Registrations” link.

In addition to the online help available within the eGrants system and the Grant Applicant and Sub-grant Applicant Quick Reference Guides available on the e Grants website, FEMA has established an eGrants Helpdesk to provide technical assistance to Applicants and Sub-applicants completing sub-applications and grant applications in the eGrants system.  The eGrants Helpdesk can be reached via telephone: 1-866-476-0544 or e-mail: mtegrants@dhs.gov.  Standard hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time.   Hours may be extended during the application period.

Back To Top

What are the National Flood Insurance Program participation requirements for Indian Tribes?

Indian tribes that have been identified through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as having a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), and a Flood Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM) or Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) has been issued for their tribal lands and/or reservations, MUST be participating in the NFIP and not on probation, suspended, or withdrawn from the NFIP to be eligible for PDM project grants.  Indian tribal governments are eligible to receive PDM planning grants even if they have been issued a FHBM or FIRM and they are not participating in the NFIP.  The planning grant is intended to provide the tribal governments the information, rsources, and incentives that will enable them to take the necessary steps to join and participate in the NFIP.

Indian tribes that have been identified through the NFIP will have a Community Identification (CID) number assigned to them by FEMA.  Please reference FEMA's Community Status Book: www.fema.gov/fema/csb.shtm to determine whether a CID number has been assigned for your tribe. 

Indian Tribes that have not been mapped or have not been officially notified by FEMA that SFHAs exist on their tribal lands and/or reservations are eligible for PDM funding.

Back To Top

What are the mitigation planning requirements for Indian Tribes?

Federally-recognized Indian tribal governments applying as Applicants directly to FEMA must have a FEMA-approved Tribal Standard or Enhanced Mitigation Plan by the PDM application deadline in order to be eligible to receive project grant funding under the PDM program in accordance with 44 CFR Part 201.

Indian tribes applying as Sub-applicants to a state/territorial emergency management agency must have a FEMA-approved tribal local mitigation plan by the PDM application deadline in order to receive project sub-grant funding.

PDM planning grants will continue to be made available to Indian tribes to enable them to meet the planning requirements.  Please see FEMA’s planning web page:  www.fema.gov/plan/mitplanning/index.shtm.

Back To Top

What are the Environmental/Historic Preservation Review requirements?

Responses to the Environmental/Historic Preservation questions in the project sub-application and submission of the supporting documentation are required for all mitigation projects.  FEMA will conduct the environmental and historic preservation reviews after the National Evaluation process is complete and FEMA has selected applications for further review.  The Tribal Historic Preservation Officer can address environmental and historic preservation requirements.  Please see FEMA's Environmental and Historic Preservation  web page:  www.fema.gov/plan/ehp/index.shtm.

Back To Top

What is the cost share requirement for PDM grants?

FEMA will contribute up to 75 percent of the total amount approved under the grant award to implement approved activities.  At least 25 percent of the total eligible costs must be provided from a non-Federal source.  Funding is restricted to a maximum of $3 million Federal share per each project sub-application and $1 million Federal share per each planning sub-application.

Grants awarded to “small, impoverished communities” may receive a Federal cost share of up to 90 percent of the total amount approved under the grant award.  Federally-recognized Indian tribal governments applying as Applicants directly to FEMA will determine if they meet the definition of a small, impoverished community as provided in the PDM Guidance. For Indian tribes applying as Sub-applicants to a state/territorial emergency management agency, the state/territory will make this determination.

Back To Top

Can an Indian Tribal government apply for management costs?

Federally-recognized Indian tribal governments applying as Applicants directly to FEMA may apply for up to 10 percent of the total funds requested.  Applicants MUST request management costs using a separate Technical Assistance/management cost sub-application.

Indian tribes applying as Sub-applicants to a state/territorial emergency management agency may apply for up to 5 percent of the total of the planning/project sub-application.

Back To Top

Is there technical assistance available for application development?

In addition to the PDM application development assistance resources provided on the PDM webpage, FEMA has established Technical Assistance Helplines to provide assistance to Applicants and Sub-applicants with engineering feasibility and effectiveness; cost effectiveness, including Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) software, technical manuals, and other BCA references; and Environmental/Historic Preservation compliance for project sub-applications. The Helplines can be reached via phone: 1-866-222-3580 or e-mail: enghelpline@dhs.gov; bchelpline@dhs.gov; and ehhelpline@dhs.gov, respectively, and guarantee a 48-hour response time. See the PDM technical assistance web page.

Back To Top

Where can I get more information about the PDM Program?

Information on the PDM program can be found on the PDM web page at www.fema.gov/government/grant/pdm/index.shtm. The PDM web page provides an overview of the program and links to program details.  Federally-recognized Indian tribal governments applying as Applicants directly to FEMA should contact the PDM Coordinator or Tribal Liaison in your FEMA Regional Office for additional information.   Indian tribes applying as Sub-applicants to a state/territorial emergency management agency should contact the State Hazard Mitigation Officer in the relevant state/territory’s emergency management agency for additional information.

Back To Top

Last Modified: Monday, 03-Mar-2008 17:17:19 EST