By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Identify the Unified HMA grant programs
• Identify common requirements and basic elements of applications
• Recognize the benefits of unifying the HMA grant programs
• Identify the two electronic application submittal systems

You have seen examples of mitigation projects that saved lives and property for individuals, communities, and society. These projects can be expensive and require financial support to accomplish.

This is where funding from FEMA's Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs is helpful. The three HMA programs fund a range of mitigation activities. For more details about the individual grant programs, select the link of the desired program.

• The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
• The Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program (PDM)
• The Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FMA)

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) provides Federal awards for long-term hazard mitigation projects following a major disaster declaration. The purpose of the program is to reduce the loss of life and property in future disasters by funding mitigation measures during or after the recovery phase of a natural disaster.

The Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Program provides Federal awards for hazard mitigation planning and the implementation of mitigation projects prior to a disaster event. These plans and projects reduce overall risks to the population and structures, while also reducing reliance on funding from actual disaster declarations.

The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program grant program provides funding for cost-effective measures that reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to buildings, manufactured homes, and other structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The goal of the FMA program is to reduce or eliminate claims under the NFIP through mitigation activities.

Eligible applicants apply for one or more of the Unified HMA grant programs to help them fund mitigation projects. Unified HMA grant programs include these three common elements:

1. NFIP Participation
2. Project Requirements
3. Basic Application Elements

NFIP Participation

The NFIP requires communities to manage development in their floodplains. A project in an identified Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) must be located within a community that is:

• Participating in the NFIP
• In good standing with NFIP (not suspended or withdrawn)
• Any structure mitigated must have an NFIP policy

The only exception to this policy is the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program pertaining to Federally-recognized Indian Tribal governments. If an Indian Tribal government has been issued a floodplain map and is not participating in the NFIP, then it may be eligible to receive a PDM planning award. The purpose of the planning award is to provide Indian Tribal governments with the information, resources, and incentives that will enable them to take the necessary steps to participate in the NFIP. Once it is a part of the NFIP, the Indian Tribal government will be eligible for PDM project awards.

Project Requirements

All projects require:

• FEMA-approved State or Indian Tribal plan
• Technical Feasibility
• Cost-effectiveness
• Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP)

Basic Application Elements:

All Unified HMA grant applications must include:

• Scope of Work
• Work Schedule/Timeline
• Cost Estimate/Budget

These elements will be addressed in more depth in course E/L/B0212 - Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance: Developing Quality Application Elements.

HMA applications are currently processed in two different systems:

• Under HMGP, paper-based applications are entered into and processed in the NEMIS HMGP System.
• Under the PDM and FMA programs, applications are processed through the Electronic Grants (eGrants) Management System. eGrants streamlines the application process by providing State and local governments the ability to apply for and manage their applications over the Internet.

All applicants must have a FEMA-approved State mitigation plan (Standard or Enhanced) or an Indian Tribal mitigation plan by the application deadline date to be eligible to apply for and receive project funding under the HMA programs.

Subapplicants must have an approved local or Indian Tribal mitigation plan.

For the HMGP, FEMA may grant an exception to the local hazard mitigation plan requirement in extraordinary circumstances, when justification is provided. If this exception is granted, a local mitigation plan must be approved by FEMA within 12 months of issuing the project subaward.

In Lesson 4 you learned to:

• Identify the Unified HMA grant programs
• Identify common requirements and basic elements of applications
• Recognize the benefits of unifying the HMA grant programs
• Identify the two application submittal programs