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Flood Mitigation Assistance
Program accomplishments, including examples of funded projects, are published in a Biennial Report to Congress as required under Section 554 of the National Flood Insurance Reform Act (NFIRA).
This report is available from Ms.
Margaret E.
Lawless, Director, Mitigation Planning and Delivery Division, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472.
Telephone: (202) 646-4621.
The Department of Homeland Security has three primary missions: Prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America's vulnerability to terrorism and minimize the damage from potential attacks and natural disasters.
Program Accomplishments
Program accomplishments are published in a Biennial Report to Congress as required under Section 554 of the National Flood Insurance Reform Act (NFIRA). This report is available from Ms. Margaret E. Lawless. Director, Mitigation Planning and Delivery Division, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472. Telephone: (202) 646-4621.
Uses and Use Restrictions
States are encouraged to use FMA planning, project and technical assistance grants to reduce the number of repetitive loss structures insured by the NFIP.
More specifically, the emphasis is on reducing target repetitive loss properties that include structures with four or more losses, and structures with two or more losses where cumulative payments have exceeded the property value.
Planning Grants may be used to assist States and communities in developing and updating Flood Mitigation Plans.
Eligible activities under this grant are: conducting local planning discussions, contracting for consulting technical services such as engineering and planning; surveying structures at risk; and assessing structures subject to repetitive flood loss.
There are several restrictions on Planning Grants.
Planning Grants will not exceed a maximum of $1,500,000 nationally each year.
A Planning Grant will not be awarded to a State or a community more than one every 5 years.
Individual Planning Grants will not exceed $150,000 to any State applicant, or exceed $50,000 to any community applicant.
The total planning grant made in any fiscal year to any State, including communities located in the State will not exceed $300,000.
Project Grants may be used to assist States and communities in implementing flood mitigation projects to reduce the risk of flood damage to structures insured or insurable under the National Flood Insurance Program.
Eligible activities under this grant include the acquisition, relocation, or elevation of insured structures.
Only mitigation activities specified in a FEMA-approved Flood Mitigation Plan are eligible for an FMA Project Grant.
There are several restrictions on Project Grants.
The combined total of project and technical assistance awarded to the State and all communities in that State is limited to $20,000,000 in a 5-year period.
There are also limits on the amount of Project Grant funds that any one State or community can receive in a 5-year period.
States can receive individual grants not totaling more than $10,000,000 in a 5-year period.
Communities can receive individual project grants not totaling more than $3,300,000 in a 5-year period.
Up to 10 percent of Project Grant allocations annually may be used for Technical Assistance.
The only applicants eligible for Technical Assistance Grants are State agencies or departments responsible for administering FMA.
Eligible activities under this grant are: conducting community site visits; reviewing draft applications or plans; participating in planning meetings; providing planning workshops/materials; and, providing grants management workshops/ materials.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants Technical Assistance Grants are State agencies or departments that are responsible for administering the FMA program.
Eligible applicants for Planning Grants are States and communities participating in the NFIP.
Suspended communities or communities on probation under the NFIP are not eligible.
Eligible applicants for Project Grants are States and communities participating in the NFIP, and with a FEMA-approved Flood Mitigation Plan.
Suspended communities or communities on probation under the NFIP are not eligible.
Beneficiary Eligibility
States and communities.
Credentials/Documentation
Grant awards will be determined in accordance with OMB Circulars No. A-102 and No. A-87 for State and local governments. Awards made to Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Non-Profit Organizations will be required to follow the requirements of OMB Circulars No. A-110 and No. A-21.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Application Process for FMA Project Grants: States apply through grant negotiation.
State FMA point of contact reviews and prioritizes applications.
FEMA reviews and ensures projects meet environmental regulations and minimum eligibility requirements.
FEMA allocates the FMA grants for planning, technical assistance, and projects annually to each FEMA region for distribution among States that have requested participation in the program.
For a State to receive funds, it should request participation in the FMA during its annual grant negotiation with the FEMA Regional Office.
This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.
12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or officials designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Application Procedures
The State applies through the annual grant negotiation. The State point of contact reviews, prioritizes, and selects applications from community for funding planning and project grants; FEMA reviews and ensures that projects meet environmental regulations and minimum eligibility requirements. Forms Required: A State Flood Mitigation Plan, SF 424 Application for Federal Assistance, Program Narrative, 20-20 Budget Information-Construction Programs, 20-16(A)-(C) Assurances and Certifications, and SF-LLL Lobbying Disclosure.
Award Procedures
State applies through grant negotiation, State reviews, prioritizes, and selects applications from community for funding Planning and Project Grants. Director allocates funds to the State, and the State distributes them to the community.
Deadlines
The FEMA Regional Director will notify States regarding the program schedule at the beginning of each fiscal year.
Authorization
National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994, Title V, Sections 553 and 554, Public Law 103-325, 42 U.S.C. 5154a.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Not applicable.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Not applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
The FEMA Director allocates available funds for FMA each fiscal year in a lump sum to each FEMA Region for distribution to the States and communities. Under the current formula, each State and territory receives a base amount of $10,000 for Planning, and $100,000 for Projects. The remaining funds are distributed based on the number of NFIP policies, repetitive loss structures, and other such criteria as the Director may determine in furtherance of the disaster resistant community concept. FEMA may contribute up to 75 percent of the cost of eligible activities. The remaining percent must be met by matching requirements from State government or other nonfederal funding sources. Up to one-half of the nonfederal share may be met by in-kind contributions from third parties. The remaining half of the nonfederal share must be met by State and local government expenditures and cash funds identified at the time of application.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
The average performance period for FMA grants is generally 2 years, but may be extended once for planning grants and twice for project grants.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Performance reports are due 30 days after the end of the second quarter (April 30) and 30 days after the end of the fourth quarter (October 30).
The final performance report is due 90 days after the expiration or termination of grant support if there is a change to the October financial report.
Financial reports are due 30 days after the end of each quarter.
Final financial and performance reports are due 90 days after the expiration or termination of grant support.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
Grant records include financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical records, and other records of recipient or subrecipient which are required to be maintained by 44 CFR Part 13.42, program regulations or the grant agreement. Grant records shall be retained for a period of 3 years from the day the recipient submits its final expenditure report. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit, or other action involving the records has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records must be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues which arise from it, or until the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later.
Financial Information
Account Identification
70-0701-0-1-453.
Obigations
FY 07 $31,000,000; FY 08 est not available; and FY 09 est not available.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Not available.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
None.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a listing of addresses of FEMA's Regional Offices.
Headquarters Office
Department of Homeland Security, 245 Murray Lane Building #410, Washington, DC 20528.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Project Grants: Minimum Project Eligibility Criteria: The extent to which proposals are cost effective, conform with applicable Federal and State regulations and executive orders, are technically feasible, conform with the Flood Mitigation Plan, are physically located in an eligible community, or benefit such a community directly. Planning Grants are selected based on whether proposals are for eligible activities such as: conducting local planning discussions; contracting for consulting technical services such as engineering and planning; surveying structures at risk; and assessing structures subject to repetitive flood loss. Technical Assistance Grants are selected based on whether proposals are for eligible activities such as: conducting community site visits; reviewing draft applications and plans; participating in planning meetings; providing planning workshops/materials; and, providing grants management workshops/materials.
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