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Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Hazard mitigation is any action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property as a result of natural disasters. Hazard mitigation planning is a process used by State, tribal, and local governments to identify risks and vulnerabilities associated with natural disasters, and to develop mitigation strategies to reduce or eliminate long term risks. Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs funded by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may include, but are not limited to buy-outs, elevations and safe rooms.
 
The Mitigation and Recovery Services (MARS) Department of the Oregon Office of Emergency Management (OEM) employs one full-time State Hazard Mitigation Officer (SHMO), a planner, and several accounting personnel to administer the HMA grant programs at the State level.
 
OEM Contact:
Amie Bashant, State Hazard Mitigation Officer
503-378-4660
 
There are three programs under HMA: The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program, and the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Program.
 
  • HMGP assists in implementing long-term hazard mitigation planning and projects following a Presidential major disaster declaration.
  • PDM provides funds for hazard mitigation planning and projects on an annual basis.
  • FMA provides funds for planning and projects to reduce or eliminate risk of flood damage to buildings that are insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) on an annual basis.
 
HMGP funding is generally 15 percent of the total amount of federal assistance provided to a State, Territory, or federally-recognized tribe following a major disaster declaration. PDM and FMA funding depends on the amount Congress appropriates each year for those programs. Because OEM strives for excellence and maintains Enhanced Plan status, Oregon is eligible to receive up to 20 percent of assistance for the estimated aggregate amounts of disaster assistance. PDM and FMA funding is appropriated by FEMA annually for a given fiscal year (some years, there may not be fuding appropriated).
 
Individual homeowners and business owners may not apply directly to FEMA. 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 funding.
 
For guidance regarding HMA, please review the following documents:
 

​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.

At this time, OEM is administering a HMGP for disaster DR 4258, Winter Storms of 2015. The amount of funds available for HMGP projects is 20 percent of the total FEMA costs associated with this disaster (Public “Infrastructure” Assistance – PA and Individual Assistance – IA, if so declared); the HMGP allocation for this disaster is estimated at $7M, based on the Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) for public assistance. The actual cost of the HMGP program is shared; FEMA pays a portion of project costs (75 percent) and successful applicants provide a non-federal share (25 percent). Eligible applicants for this HMGP initially include state and local governments, consumer-owned utility providers and certain special districts in the requested disaster area (declared counties) that have current, FEMA-approved natural hazard mitigation plans. 

Homeowners and business owners can also participate in this HMGP offering but must be represented by an eligible applicant. HMGP is available statewide after initial, priority consideration in the declared counties.​


OEM Contact:
Amie Bashant, State Hazard Mitigation Officer
503-378-4660

​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

​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.

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. 
 
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 Amie Bashant​, 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.
 
At this time, Fiscal Year 2016 PDM grant application period is closed. Once the Fiscal Year 2017 grant application period is open for PDM, 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:
Ammie Bashant, State Hazard Mitigation Officer
503-378-4660
 

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