This is the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program (PDM) homepage. The purpose of this page is to provide general information on the PDM program.
General Program Information
The PDM Program, authorized by Section 203 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, is designed to assist States, U.S. Territories, Federally-recognized tribes, and local communities in implementing a sustained pre-disaster natural hazard mitigation program. The goal is to reduce overall risk to the population and structures from future hazard events, while also reducing reliance on Federal funding in future disasters. This program awards planning and project grants and provides opportunities for raising public awareness about reducing future losses before disaster strikes. Mitigation planning is a key process used to break the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage. PDM grants are funded annually by Congressional appropriations and are awarded on a nationally competitive basis.
FEMA requires state, territorial, tribal, and local governments to develop and adopt hazard mitigation plans as a condition for receiving certain types of non-emergency disaster assistance, including funding for PDM mitigation projects. For more information on the mitigation plan requirement, visit the Hazard Mitigation Plan Requirement web page or refer to the current HMA Guidance for detailed information on the PDM Program.
Project subapplications submitted for consideration for PDM funding must be consistent with the goals and objectives identified in the current, FEMA-approved State or Tribal (Standard or Enhanced) hazard mitigation plan along with the local or tribal hazard mitigation plan for the jurisdiction in which the activity is located.
Planning subapplications submitted for consideration for PDM funding must result in a mitigation plan adopted by the jurisdiction(s) and approved by FEMA. PDM funds mitigation planning to help States, U.S. Territories, Federally-recognized tribes and local governments engage in a planning process that meets the requirements outlined in 44 CFR Part 201 Mitigation Planning. For more information on FEMA’s mitigation planning program, laws, regulation, policies, resources, and training, visit FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Planning Resouces web page.
Eligibility
The following are eligible Applicants to the PDM grant program:
- States
- U.S. Territories
- Federally-recognized tribes
- Local governments
Local governments are eligible Subapplicants and can sponsor applications on behalf of homeowners to submit to the Applicant.
Application Process
Subapplicants (i.e., local governments) submit mitigation planning and project subapplications to their State during the open application cycle. After reviewing planning and project applications to determine if they meet the program’s requirements, the Applicants (i.e,. States, U.S. Territories, or Federally-recognized tribal governments) prioritize and forward the planning and project applications in a PDM grant application to FEMA. Locals should contact their State Hazard Mitigation Officer or Federally-recognized tribal/local government official to obtain detailed information on the PDM application process.
Once FEMA reviews planning and project applications for eligibility and completeness, FEMA makes funding decisions based on the agency's priorities for the most effective use of grant funds and the availability of funds posted in the Notice of Funds Opportunity announcement on Grants.gov. The PDM program is a highly competitive grant program.
FEMA awards PDM funds to State, U.S. Territory, and Federally-recognized tribal Applicants, who in-turn provide subawards to local government Subapplicants.
Below is a flowchart showing the process individual homeowners, businesses, subapplicants and Applicants must go through in order to apply for PDM grants and how this process leads to FEMA.
Fiscal Year 2016 Application Cycle
FEMA completed its review of the Fiscal Year 2016 Pre-Disaster Mitigation applications and made selections based on available funding and the agency’s priorities (see the FY 2016 Pre-Disaster Mitigation Fact Sheet.) The status of applications is posted online: FY 2016 PDM Subapplication Status.
Fiscal Year 2015 Application Status
FEMA completed its review of the Fiscal Year 2015 Pre-Disaster Mitigation applications and made selections based on the agency’s priorities and available funding. The status of applications is posted online: FY 2015 PDM Subapplication Status.