The FMA program is authorized by Section 1366 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended with the goal of reducing or eliminating claims under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). FMA provides funding to states, U.S. territories, federally-recognized tribes and local communities for projects and planning that reduces or eliminates long-term risk of flood damage to structures insured under the NFIP. FMA funding is also available for management costs. Funding is appropriated by Congress annually.
FEMA requires state, 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 HMA mitigation projects. For more information on mitigation plan requirement or refer to the current HMA.
Please refer to the current HMA guidance for detail information on the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program.
Subapplicants submit mitigation planning and project subapplications to their state during the open application cycle. After reviewing project and planning applications to determine if they meet the program’s requirements, the States, territories, or federally-recognized tribal governments prioritize and forward the applications to their FEMA regional office.
Planning subapplications submitted for consideration for FMA funding must only be used to support the flood hazard portion of State, tribal, or local mitigation plans to meet the requirements outlined in 44 CFR Part 201 Mitigation Planning. Funds are only available to support communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Projects submitted for consideration for FMA 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.
Funding is limited and FEMA Headquarters must make difficult decisions as to the most effective use of grant funds. FEMA awards FMA funds to state, U.S. territory, and Federally-recognized tribal Applicants, who in-turn provide sub-awards to local government subapplicants.
Please contact State Hazard Mitigation Officer Amie Bashant, your federally-recognized tribal government official and/or a local government official to obtain detailed information on the FMA application process.
At this time, Fiscal Year 2016 FMA grant application period is closed. Once the Fiscal Year 2017 grant application period is open for FMA, an announcement will be sent to local emergency managers and an announcement will be posted here with instructions on completing an application. It is important to know that the application period is short, turn-around time will be quick, so it behooves local entities to start thinking about the requirements for this program now and begin formulating project ideas and budgets.
OEM Contact:
Amie Bashant, State Hazard Mitigation Officer
503-378-4660