DHS Awards More Than $1.2 Million In Additional Grants To Reduce Risk Through Pre-Disaster Planning
Release Date: July 7, 2003
Release Number: HQ-03-141
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced that four states and one U.S territory have received grants to help state, local and tribal governments protect lives and property by developing multi-hazard mitigation plans. These plans, funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agencys (FEMA) Pre-Disaster Mitigation program, will soon be a prerequisite for receiving certain types of mitigation funding and disaster assistance.
"One of our principal missions is to help reduce the loss of life and property due to disasters," said Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response. "Supporting comprehensive plans to reduce risks before a disaster strikes is the most effective way to meet that mission."
New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and American Samoa have each received $248,375 to support development of hazard mitigation plans that meet FEMA guidelines. These funds require a 25 percent cost share to be provided from a non-federal source.
Earlier this month, Brown announced pre-disaster mitigation planning grants to Arizona, California, Hawaii, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Vermont. In late May, Brown had announced similar grants to Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Washington.
"State and local hazard mitigation planning is so important that it will soon be required for states to be eligible for pre- and post-disaster mitigation assistance," said Anthony S. Lowe, director of FEMA's Mitigation Division. "States that show they are serious about reducing risks through strong pre-disaster planning will be eligible to receive federal funds in the future to support their efforts."
After November 1, 2003, FEMA-approved local mitigation plans will be required as a condition of receiving pre-disaster mitigation grants for local mitigation projects. FEMA-approved local plans are not required for project grants awarded with FY 2003 pre-disaster mitigation funds. After November 1, 2004, a FEMA-approved state mitigation plan will also be required to receive pre-disaster mitigation grants for both state and local mitigation projects.
A state mitigation plan will also be required for non-emergency assistance provided under the Stafford Act following a presidentially declared disaster, including public assistance for restoration of damaged facilities and post-disaster Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding.
Multi-hazard mitigation planning may include hazards caused by non-natural events but must be focused primarily on natural hazards. The funds can be used to develop multi-jurisdictional plans, if adopted by all participating political jurisdictions, since many issues are better resolved by evaluating hazards in a more comprehensive fashion. Risk assessments in support of mitigation planning are also eligible.
Information about mitigation programs is available at http://www.fema.gov
Last Modified: Monday, 07-Jul-2003 12:38:43