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Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA)




Overview

Hazard mitigation is any sustainable action that reduces or eliminates long-term risk to people and property from future disasters. Mitigation planning breaks the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction and repeated damage. Hazard mitigation includes long-term solutions that reduce the impact of disasters in the future.

Individual homeowners and business owners may not apply for HMA grants directly; however, eligible local governments may apply on their behalf. All eligible applicants, including special districts, must have a FEMA-approved Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan (NHMP) in place prior to applying for HMA grant program funding. Private nonprofits are an exception to this requirement (for post-disaster grant programs only). If your NHMP has expired, if you have questions pertaining to the NHMP requirement, or would like to know more about an extraordinary circumstances exception request pertaining to an expired plan, please contact:


Non-disaster Contact: 
Anna Feigum, State Hazard Mitigation Officer
503-798-7240
anna.r.feigum@oem.oregon.gov

Pre-disaster Contact:
Jon Wiebe, Deputy State Hazard Mitigation Officer
503-934-3255



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HMGP-PF-FM-5446-OR:

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Significant Dates

HMGP-PF-FM-5446-OR:

  • Date declared: 8/3/2022
  • Period of Performance end date: 3/31/2026​​​​


Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) (new in 2020; replaced PDM)

The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program makes federal funds available to states & territories, local communities, and tribes as they undertake hazard mitigation activities. It does so with a recognition of the growing hazards associated with climate change, and of the need for natural hazard risk mitigation activities that promote climate adaptation and resilience with respect to those hazards. These include both acute extreme weather events and chronic stressors which have been observed and are expected to increase in intensity and frequency in the future.  BRIC’s guiding principles are:

  • Support state and local governments, tribes and territories through capability- and capacity-building to enable them to identify mitigation actions and implement projects that reduce risks posed by natural hazards.
  • Encourage and enable innovation while allowing flexibility, consistency and effectiveness.
  • Promote partnerships and enable high-impact investments to reduce risk from natural hazards with a focus on critical services and facilities, public infrastructure, public safety, public health and communities.
  • Provide a significant opportunity to reduce future losses and minimize impacts on the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF).
  • Promote equity, including by helping members of disadvantaged groups and prioritizing 40% of the benefits to disadvantaged communities as referenced in

Executive Order (EO) 14008 on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (Jan. 27, 2021) in line with the Administration’s Justice40 Initiative.

  • Support the adoption and enforcement of building codes, standards and policies that will protect the health, safety and general welfare of the public, considering future conditions, prominently including the effects of climate change, and have long-lasting impacts on community risk reduction, including for critical services and facilities and for future disaster costs.

Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA)

The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant program makes federal funds available to states, U.S. territories, federally recognized Tribal governments, and local governments to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and within NFIP-participating communities. It does so with a recognition of the growing flood hazards associated with climate change, and of the need for flood hazard risk mitigation activities that promote climate adaptation, equity, and resilience with respect to flooding. These include both acute extreme weather events and chronic stressors which have been observed and are expected to increase in intensity and frequency in the future.​

With the exception of pre-applications for planning projects, FEMA requires state, local, tribal and territorial governments to develop or update, receive FEMA pre-approval, and then 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, see the 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 the State Hazard Mitigation Officer​, your federally-recognized tribal government official and/or a local government official to obtain detailed information on the FMA application process.​

Pre-disaster Mitigation (PDM) (replaced by BRIC in 2020)

The SHMO continues to manage previous PDM grant rounds from 2019 and prior. If you have any questions in regards to previously submitted sub-applications, please contact the SHMO.


Post-disaster Contact: 
Anna Feigum, State Hazard Mitigation Officer
503-798-7240
anna.r.feigum@oem.oregon.gov

Non-disaster Contact:
Jon Wiebe, Deputy State Hazard Mitigation Officer
503-934-3255
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Post-disaster grant programs under HMA include the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Post Fire.


Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)

​The purpose of the HMGP program is to help communities implement hazard mitigation measures following a Presidential major disaster declaration. Hazard mitigation is any action taken to reduce or eliminate long term risk to people and property from natural hazards. Mitigation planning is a key process used to break the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction and repeated damage. The HMPG is authorized under Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.

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Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Post Fire (HMGP-PF)

Wildfires can destroy homes, businesses, infrastructure, natural resources and agriculture. They can also increase secondary hazards and leave areas prone to floods, erosion and mudflows for many years. FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) has Post Fire assistance available to help communities implement hazard mitigation measures after wildfire disasters.

The application period opens with the state or territory's first FMAG declaration of the fiscal year and closes six months after the end of that fiscal year. The SHMO will send out statewide guidance for HMGP-PF including funding available, timelines, etc.

Post-disaster Contact: 
Anna Feigum, State Hazard Mitigation Officer
503-798-7240
anna.r.feigum@oem.oregon.gov

Pre-disaster Contact:
Jon Wiebe, Deputy State Hazard Mitigation Officer​
503-934-3255

This guidance document was created to assist those applying for mitigation assistance through the Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) program offered by FEMA and OEM. It includes a step-by-step guide to the most common questions when filling out the Hazard Mitigation Sub-application. However, there may be additional assistance needed. If this occurs, please contact the OEM Mitigation Team at 503-378-2260 or email oem.hazardmitigation@oem.oregon.gov. To review FEMA’s HMGP requirements, please refer to the HMA Guidance and HMA Guidance Addendum.

The Mitigation Section falls under the Mitigation and Recovery Services (MARS) Section within Oregon Emergency Management (OEM). The Mitigation Section consists of a Manager, the State Hazard Mitigation Officer, a Mitigation Support Specialist, six Mitigation Program Representatives, an Administrative Specialist and an Accountant to administer the HMA grant programs at the state-level. The SHMO is the liaison between local entities and FEMA Region X for all hazard mitigation assistance grant programs. The SHMO also facilitates the quarterly State Interagency Hazard Mitigation Team (IHMT) meetings. MARS includes a Planner, who primarily works with entities on natural hazard mitigation plans in addition to assisting OEM with a variety of post-disaster recovery efforts. The Planner also plays an active role during IHMT meetings (agenda drafting, meeting minutes, etc.).

When contacting the HMA team via email please include the Grant and Project number in the subject line.