3. Federal Resources

FEMA’s HMA grant programs provide funds for pre- and post-disaster mitigation. These programs reduce the risk of loss of life and property due to natural hazards. Here are brief descriptions of the HMA grant programs:

• Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC). This program gives resources to communities for hazard mitigation projects. With funds to address future natural disaster risk, communities can build their resilience.
• Flood Mitigation Assistance. This program gives funds on an annual basis. Communities can use these funds to take measures that reduce or eliminate the risk of flood damage to buildings insured under the NFIP.
• Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. This program assists in carrying out long-term hazard mitigation measures following presidential disaster declarations. Funding may be authorized to carry out projects in accordance with state, tribal and local priorities.
• Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund. This program provides seed funding for states to set up mitigation revolving loan fund programs. These programs provide low interest loans to jurisdictions to reduce vulnerability to natural disasters, foster greater community resilience and reduce disaster suffering.
• The Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams (HHPD) grant program provides technical, planning, design, and construction assistance in the form of grants for rehabilitation of eligible high hazard potential dams.

Section 406 of the Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. 5172, gives FEMA the power to fund cost-effective mitigation measures under the Public Assistance (PA) program while repairing disaster-damaged public facilities. This usually becomes apparent during the immediate repair phase after a disaster event. Your community must be aware and involved in the development of PA projects in close coordination with state and FEMA counterparts. This will help pinpoint possible mitigation opportunities under the PA program.

The FEMA National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Earthquake State Assistance Program was created to boost earthquake risk reduction at the local level. Mitigation activities funded through this program include:

• Developing seismic mitigation plans.
• Conducting seismic safety inspections of critical structures and lifelines.
• Updating building codes, zoning codes and ordinances to enhance seismic safety.
• Increasing earthquake awareness and education.

You can learn more about funding local earthquake risk reduction activities. Reach out to your SHMO or State Earthquake Program contact.

The Emergency Management Performance Grants Program gives grants to states to assist SLTT governments prepare for threats and hazards. The grants focus on planning, operations, equipment acquisitions, training, exercises and construction and renovation in enhancing all-hazards emergency management capabilities. Your state emergency management agency is the only entity that can apply to FEMA for this program on behalf of state and local emergency management agencies. So, your first point of coordination should be through your local emergency management office.

FEMA offers many types of technical assistance. Technical assistance may take the form of information resources; publications; training; templates, models and samples; networking; or onsite workshops. As you develop your plan and assess your local capabilities, you will get a sense of what technical assistance might help the most.

Through BRIC Direct Technical Assistance, FEMA gives full support to communities that may not have the resources to begin climate resilience planning and project solution design. Support may include climate risk assessments; community engagement; mitigation and climate adaptation planning; and BRIC program requests throughout the grant lifecycle.

The National Earthquake Technical Assistance Program is designed to help state, tribal and local governments get the knowledge and tools they need to plan and carry out earthquake mitigation strategies. FEMA provides these types of assistance through the program:

• Training. Courses and associated materials, available for the classroom or independent study, related to a number of seismic risk reduction activities and stakeholders.
• Technical assistance. Technical advice and shared expertise that help recipients design, develop and carry out earthquake mitigation projects.
• Tools development. Help in creating job aids and other tools to carry out earthquake mitigation efforts.
• Special project support. Depending on available program funding, support for demonstration projects or other mitigation initiatives.

FEMA’s Risk Mapping, Assessment and Planning (Risk MAP) program helps communities pinpoint, assess and reduce flood risk. Through Risk MAP, FEMA gives communities flood risk data and information to enhance local mitigation plans, improve community outreach, and increase local resilience to floods. The products and guidance provided by Risk MAP can be used to help carry out your local plan.

FEMA’s Building Science provides technical services and mitigation guidance to create disaster-resilient communities. The branch offers NFIP technical support for public and private sector stakeholders, the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, and outreach strategies for communicating Building Science issues.

FEMA is offering a Collaborative Technical Assistance (CTA) series to help communities at risk of dam-related flooding to better understand their risk landscape and the potential consequences of dam-related emergencies. The CTA will include planning for emergencies related to operational discharges or dam-related infrastructure failure.