Mitigation Grant Programs Fact Sheet
- Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
- Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA)
- Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Program
- Repetitive Flood Claims (RFC) Grant Program
- Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) Pilot Program
FEMA's Mitigation Grant programs provide funding for eligible mitigation activities that reduce disaster losses and protect life and property from future disaster damages. Currently, FEMA administers the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program, the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program, and the the Repetitive Flood Claims (RFC) program. The Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) program will be added in FY 2007. The RFC and SRL grant programs are designed to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flooding to NFIP-insured structures, and thereby reduce the number of claims paid from the National Flood Insurance Fund (NFIF).
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
HMGP e-mail updatesHazard Mitigation Grant Program funds are 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, and all funds must be used to reduce or eliminate losses from future disasters. Examples of projects include:
- Elevating flood-prone homes or businesses;
- Acquiring (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; and
- Implementing minor flood control projects to protect critical facilities.
HMGP provides up to 7.5 percent of total Disaster Assistance funds for mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery after 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, including the Federal law that requires States and communities to have FEMA-approved mitigation plans in place prior to receipt of HMGP project funds. A mitigation plan must identify hazards, assess community needs, and describe 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 insured 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 to reduce the risks; and
- Project grants are used to implement mitigation activities that reduce flood losses to NFIP-insured properties by 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.
Reducing the number of repetitive loss structures insured by the NFIP is a key priority for the FMA program. Repetitive loss structures are those that have sustained two or more flood losses within a period of ten years, with each loss resulting in a flood insurance claim payment exceeding $1000.
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 to raise risk awareness and reduce disaster losses before disasters strike through planning grants and project grants. PDM grants are awarded on a nationally competitive basis. Communities and States must have FEMA-approved mitigation plans in order to receive project grant funds.
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; and,
- Voluntary acquisition of real property.
Repetitive Flood Claims (RFC) Grant Program
The Repetitive Flood Claims (RFC) grant program is designed to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to structures that are insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and have had one or more claim payment(s) for flood damages. RFC funds may only be used to mitigate structures located within a State or community that is participating in the NFIP and cannot meet the requirements of the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program due to lack of state or local capacity, which includes either inability to manage the subgrant or lack of 25% non-Federal cost share.
The goal of the RFC grant program is to reduce or eliminate long-term flood risks through mitigation activities that are in the best interest of the National Flood Insurance Fund. The RFC grants are awarded to Applicants on a nationwide basis without reference to State allocations, quotas, or other formula-based allocations. All grants are eligible for up to 100 percent Federal assistance.
Eligible mitigation activities include acquisition of properties and either demolition or relocation of flood-prone structures, where the property is deed retricted for open space uses in perpetuity. Awards will be further prioritized to fund acquisitions that create the greatest amount of savings to the NFIF based on a benefit-cost analysis. A FEMA-approved State/Tribal standard or enhanced hazard mitigation plan is required for eligibility; however, a local plan is not required.
Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) Pilot Program
The Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) Pilot Program provides funds to assist States, Indian Tribal governments, and local governments participating in the NFIP in reducing or eliminating the long-term flood risks to severe repetitive loss properties, thus reducing outlays from the NFIF. Severe repetitive loss was defined by the FIRA 2004. For a property to be designated SRL, it must:
- Be a residential property currently insured under the National Flood Insurance Program;
- Have incurred flood losses that resulted in either (1) four or more flood insurance claims payments that each exceeded $5,000 with at least two of the payments occurring within a 10-year period, or (2) two or more flood insurance claims payments that cumulatively exceeded the value of the property.
SRL funds will be allocated annually to States, Territories, and Tribes based on the number of severe repetitive loss properties in their respective jurisdictions.
Eligible SRL activities include:
- Elevation, relocation, or demolition of existing residential properties;
- Floodproofing measures for residential properties;
- Minor physical localized flood control projects; and,
- Demolition and rebuilding of properties to at least Base Flood Elevation (BFE) or greater if required by any local ordinance.
Grants are eligible for up to a 75 percent Federal cost share. The non-Federal cost share may be adjusted to 10 percent if the Applicant has a FEMA-approved State mitigation plan that also addresses how the State has and will continue to reduce the number of severe repetitive loss properties.
Last Modified: Friday, 11-Jan-2008 10:47:47 EST