ORLANDO, Fla. – The City of New Smyrna Beach will receive nearly $1.2 million in federal grant money to elevate flood-prone homes—identified by the city—to reduce the loss of life and property from severe flooding events.
FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program has approved $1,175,193 to elevate nine single family homes in New Smyrna Beach. These homes have experienced flood related losses and are at imminent risk of flooding again. The identified homes will be elevated to a minimum required height of one and a half feet above the area Base Flood Elevation or highest known flood level, whichever is higher; plus, three additional feet to account for sea level rise. This project will also provide for the extension and reconnection of utilities and the elevation of electrical and mechanical equipment outside of the homes. Construction of appropriate means of entry and exit will be also provided.
Funding for this HMGP project is authorized under Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Act, the 1988 law that governs FEMA’s disaster-related activities.
FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is an important source of federal disaster assistance. HMGP funds may become available following the president’s declaration of a major disaster, and help strengthen communities by improving buildings, facilities and infrastructure that people use every day. A 2018 report from the National Institute of Building Sciences found that one dollar spent on hazard mitigation will save more than six dollars of recovery and rebuilding costs.
Generally, HMGP may provide a state, tribe or territory with additional grants up to 15 percent of the total disaster grants awarded by FEMA for a federally-declared disaster. States such as Florida that meet higher mitigation planning criteria may qualify for a higher percentage.
Florida has a FEMA-approved Enhanced Mitigation Plan, making the state eligible for HMGP funding not to exceed 20 percent of the estimated total amount of money spent by FEMA on disaster grants in the Hurricane Irma disaster. From this amount, HMGP reimburses the state up to 75 percent of eligible costs for mitigation projects. The remaining amount comes from other sources such as state and local assets and a combination of cash and in-kind sources.
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FEMA’s mission: Helping people before, during, and after disasters.