Flood Mitigation Assistance

 

Objectives The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant program makes federal funds available to states, U.S. territories, Federally Recognized Tribal governments, and local governments to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). It does so with a recognition of the growing flood hazards associated with climate change, and of the need for flood hazard risk mitigation activities that promote climate adaptation, equity, and resilience with respect to flooding. These include both acute extreme weather events and chronic stressors which have been observed and are expected to increase in intensity and frequency in the future. From Fiscal Year (FY) 1996 to FY 2019, FMA obligated over $1.5 billion in federal share mitigating over 8,000 properties insured by the National Flood Insurance Program. Performance Measures The following key performance indicators provide strategic and relevant information to decisionmakers and stakeholders about FMAs progress and success toward achieving goals and objectives, and are based on measurable data that are available or could be feasibly collected: Total number of NFIP-insured properties selected that are FMA and/or NFIP defined Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL), Repetitive Loss (RL), and Substantially Damaged. Total federal cost share funding invested in Justice40 Communities identified using version 1.0 of the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST). Total dollar amount of flood losses avoided in projects or communities funded by FMA subapplications. FEMA will further assess the recipients performance against the program objective during the award closeout process as outlined in Section F.3.c of this funding opportunity. Goals The FMA program aligns with the 2020-2024 DHS Strategic Plan through pursuing Goal 5: Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience. Specifically, Objective 5.1: Build a National Culture of Preparedness has several sub-objectives that the FMA program supports. FMA serves primarily to bolster Sub-Objective 5.1.1: Incentivize investments that reduce risk and increase pre-disaster mitigation, including expanding the use of insurance to manage risk through funding flood mitigation projects. The FMA program addresses Presidential Policy Directive 21, Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience. FMA also supports the National Mitigation Investment Strategy and the FIMA FY 2021-2023 Mitigation Strategy by advancing mitigation investment to reduce risks posed by natural hazards and increasing the nations resilience to natural hazards. Awards made under this NOFO will be funded, in whole or in part, with funds appropriated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also more commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The BIL is a once-in-a-generation investment in infrastructure, which will grow a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable economy by enhancing U.S. competitiveness, driving the creation of quality jobs, and ensuring stronger access to economic and environmental benefits for disadvantaged communities. The BIL appropriates billions of dollars to FEMA to promote resilient infrastructure, respond to the impacts of climate change, and equip our nation with the resources to combat its most pressing threats. Objectives FMA aims to implement projects that reduce flood risks posed to repetitively flooded properties insured under the NFIP. The FMA program also aims to promote equity in the delivery of funds in line with the Administrations Justice40 Initiative, established by Executive Order (EO) 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, which has made it the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy, and other investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized and overburdened by pollution and underinvestment. In implementing the Justice40 Initiative, the FMA program is prioritizing assistance that benefits disadvantaged communities as referenced in EO 14008 and subsequent guidance. FMA funds are sourced from congressionally appropriated funding from the National Flood Insurance Fund (NFIF) as well as funding made available for FY 23 Flood Mitigation Assistance via the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The BIL funding allows increased federal cost share for a property: located within a census tract with a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Social Vulnerability Index score of not less than 0.5001. (Refer to Section C.4, Cost Share or Match).

Active 97.029 Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2016 $120 Million in losses avoided. $275 Million in losses avoided.
Fiscal Year 2017 $150 Million in losses avoided.
Fiscal Year 2018 $150 Million in losses avoided.
Fiscal Year 2020 Cutover to Pivot as new NFIP System of Record • Leveraged remote claims adjusting techniques to protect the health and safety of policyholders and insurance professionals during COVID-19. • Delivered an enhanced data analytics tool set. • Published updated claims and underwriting manuals. • Delivered targeted messages to consumers to encourage flood insurance purchase. • Implemented the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 (DRRA), Section 1212 for Group Flood Insurance Policy (GFIP) which doubled the maximum coverage limit. • Increased oversight of WYO claims and underwriting processes from triennial operation reviews to annual operation reviews. • Launched customer service surveys through the NFIP Direct for improved policyholder claims experience. • Strengthened partnerships with industry partners (insurance adjusters, WYO companies, vendors) through increased engagement. For FY20, FEMA selected 117 subapplications totaling $199,947,302 federal share in projects that will reduce future flood claims to the National Flood Insurance Fund (NFIF). Fiscal Year 2020: $900 Million in losses avoided
Fiscal Year 2021 FMA aims to implement projects that reduce flood risks posed to repetitively flooded properties insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), by funding priority projects and activities.
Fiscal Year 2023 Fiscal Year 2023: FY 23 FMA is prioritizing the following types of projects: Capability and Capacity Building (C&CB), Localized Flood Risk Reduction Projects, and Individual Flood Mitigation Projects that mitigate flood risks to NFIP participating communities and active policyholders. FEMA will assess input and output indicators of each federal award by measuring the total properties mitigated that carry a Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) and Repetitive Loss (RL) definition pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 4104c(h)(2) and (3), that are included in a final mitigation action. FEMA will also assess each award output by measuring project capability to positively influence the government’s goal of mitigating SRL and RL designated properties and thereby the reduction of future losses to the NFIP under this award. FEMA will also assess each award output by measuring the total NFIP insured structures within sub applications within socially vulnerable communities as defined by Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Social Vulnerability Index (SVI ) score at the census tract not less than 0.5001. FEMA will determine the CDC SVI score using the following three SVI themes: Socioeconomic Status, Household Characteristics, and Housing Type and Transportation.” Section 1366 of The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, Pub. L. No. 90-448 (codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. § 4104c) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Pub. L. No. 117-58, 135 Stat. 1387–1388 (2021). Each state, territory, the District of Columbia, and federally recognized tribal government shall designate one agency to serve as the applicant for FMA funding. The designee is strongly encouraged to conduct outreach with disadvantaged communities as referenced in EO 14008 prior to and during the application process. Each applicant's designated agency may submit only one FMA grant application to FEMA. Subapplications under which two or more entities would carry out the award are eligible, such as a multi-state or multi-tribal initiative; however, only one entity may be the applicant with primary responsibility for carrying out the award. Communities, including local governments, cities, townships, counties, special district governments, and tribal governments (including federally recognized tribes who choose to apply as subapplicants), are considered subapplicants and must submit subapplications to their state/territory/tribal applicant agency. Certain political subdivisions (for example, regional flood control districts or county governments) may apply and act as subapplicants if they are part of a community participating in the NFIP where the political subdivision provides zoning and building code enforcement or planning and community development professional services for that community. Contact information for the State Hazard Mitigation Officers (SHMOs) is provided on the FEMA website at https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/state-contacts. Eligibility Criteria o All applicants and subapplicants must be participating in the NFIP, and not be withdrawn, on probation, or suspended. NFIP community status can be verified at https://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insuranceprogram-community-status-book. o Structures identified in the subapplication must have an NFIP policy (including a Group Flood Insurance Policy [GFIP]) in effect prior to the opening of the application period and the policy must be maintained throughout the life of the structure. The requirement of maintaining flood insurance shall apply during the life of the property, regardless of transfer of ownership of such property. If the subapplicant does not comply with this requirement, FEMA may take one or more actions as remedies for noncompliance, as appropriate. This could include disallowing all or part of the cost of the activity or action not in compliance. For additional details, see 2 C.F.R. ? 200.339. o Applicants are required to have a FEMA-approved State or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan in accordance with Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) Part 201 by the application deadline and at the time of obligation of the award. More detailed information is provided in Part III, E.5, Hazard Mitigation Plan Requirement, of the HMA Guidance, available on the FEMA website at https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/103279. o Subapplicants are required to have a FEMA-approved Local or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan in accordance with 44 C.F.R. Part 201 by the application deadline and at the time of obligation of grant funds for Capability and Capacity Building activities, Localized Flood Risk Reduction Project, and Individual Flood Mitigation Project subapplications. Mitigation planning subapplications are exempt from the hazard mitigation plan requirement for subapplicants only. Mitigation plan integration, while not required to be eligible for FMA, is encouraged. Local hazard mitigation plans must conform to the Local Plan Review Guide, or any subsequent local mitigation planning guide that supersedes it. o To be considered for financial assistance, all applicants must submit their FY 2023 FMA grant applications to FEMA via FEMA GO. Refer to the NOFO posted on www.Grants.gov for information on eligibility criteria. Each state, territory, the District of Columbia, and federally recognized tribal government shall designate one agency to serve as the applicant for FMA funding. The designee is strongly encouraged to conduct outreach with disadvantaged communities as referenced in EO 14008 prior to and during the application process. Each applicant's designated agency may submit only one FMA grant application to FEMA. Subapplications under which two or more entities would carry out the award are eligible, such as a multi-state or multi-tribal initiative; however, only one entity may be the applicant with primary responsibility for carrying out the award. Communities, including local governments, cities, townships, counties, special district governments, and tribal governments (including federally recognized tribes who choose to apply as subapplicants), are considered subapplicants and must submit subapplications to their state/territory/tribal applicant agency. Certain political subdivisions (for example, regional flood control districts or county governments) may apply and act as subapplicants if they are part of a community participating in the NFIP where the political subdivision provides zoning and building code enforcement or planning and community development professional services for that community. Contact information for the State Hazard Mitigation Officers (SHMOs) is provided on the FEMA website at https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/state-contacts. Refer to the NOFO posted on www.Grants.gov for information. Documentation required will be outlined in other program implementation material and included in the Notices of Funding Opportunity Opportunities (NOFO) posted on www.Grants.gov Preapplication coordination is required. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official 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. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. All applicants must submit an FMA grant application via FEMA GO by the application deadline to be considered for funding. The required format for applications and subapplications is built into FEMA GO: o FMA applications including Capability and Capacity Building Activities (Mitigation Plan Development under 42 U.S.C. 4104c(c)(3)(F), Technical Assistance by States to communities (42 U.S.C. 4104c(c)(3)(J)), Project Scoping, Additional Capability and Capacity Building Activities (including Partnership Development to Conduct Eligible Mitigation Activities, Enhancing Local Floodplain Management, SRL/RL Strategy Development, and other eligible Capability and Capacity Building Activities under 42 U.S.C. 4104c(c)(3)(G)), Localized Flood Risk Reduction Project, Individual Flood Mitigation Project, and Management Costs subapplications must be submitted in an FY 2023 FMA application. o Mitigation Plan Development activities must be submitted in a plan subapplication type. o Project Scoping activities must be submitted in a project scoping application type. o Technical Assistance by States to communities (42 U.S.C. 4104c(c)(3)(J) must be submitted in a technical assistance subapplication. o Additional Capability and Capacity Building Activities must be submitted in a technical assistance subapplication. o Localized Flood Risk Reduction Project and Individual Flood Mitigation Project must be submitted in a project subapplication. o Applicant Management Costs must be submitted in a management costs subapplication. Applications are reviewed by DHS/FEMA program and administrative staff. Any issues or concerns noted in the application will be negotiated with the successful applicant prior to the award being issued. Applicants are responsible for distributing funds to sub-applicants. Upon award the Applicant is subsequently referred to as the Recipient. Recipients are responsible for distributing funds to subrecipients. For more information view the Notices of Funding Opportunities posted on www.Grants.gov Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Please see the NOFO Announcement posted on www.Grants.gov. From 30 to 60 days. At its discretion, and at the request of the applicant or subapplicant (through the applicant), FEMA may reconsider a decision regarding any subapplication that is Not Selected or Does Not Meet HMA Requirements only where there is an indication of substantive technical or procedural error that may have influenced FEMA's decision. There will be no reconsideration regarding the amount of planning subapplications, applicant management costs, or Technical Assistance costs. Applicants must send requests for reconsideration based on technical or procedural error to the FEMA Regional Office within 60 days of the posting of subapplication status. Subapplicants should contact their applicant agency regarding reconsideration requests, so that the applicant may submit it to the FEMA Regional Office on their behalf. Contact information for each State Hazard Mitigation Officer is provided at State Hazard Mitigation Officers | FEMA.gov. Not applicable. Refer to Notice of Funding Opportunity posted on www.Grants.gov for information on criteria for selecting proposals. Civil Defense/Disaster Prevention and Relief/Emergency Preparedness Flood mitigation projects to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to properties insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) are eligible for the FMA program. Eligible project types include: acquisition-demolition and acquisition-relocation; elevation of existing structures to the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) or an Advisory Base Flood Elevation (ABFE) or higher; minor localized flood risk reduction projects; and dry-flood proofing (historic properties and non-residential structures). FMA funds can only be used for the flood hazard component of a hazard mitigation plan that meets the planning criteria outlined in 44 CFR Part 201. See also 44 CFR 79.6(b),(d)(1). Individual planning grants using FMA funds shall not exceed $50,000 to any applicant or $25,000 to any subapplicant. Projects must meet all eligibility criteria including technical feasibility, cost-effectiveness; compliance with environmental and historic preservation laws and regulations which include Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) Directive & Instruction (FEMA Directive 108-1& Instruction 108--1-1) and other program requirements. Please see the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Guidance posted on http://www.fema.gov and refer to the NOFO posted on www.Grants.gov for information. Projects must meet all eligibility criteria including technical feasibility, cost-effectiveness; compliance with environmental and historic preservation laws and regulations which include Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) Directive & Instruction (FEMA Directive 108-1& Instruction 108--1-1) and other program requirements. Please see the Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) program guidance on the FEMA website for detailed information: http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/103279. Performance Reports: Recipients are required to submit quarterly and final performance reports that include the progress of each subaward. Please refer to the Notice of Funding Opportunity for reporting requirements. In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503 Non-federal entities, other than for-profit subrecipients, that expend $750,000 or more in federal awards during their fiscal year must have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year in accordance with Subpart F. 2 C.F.R. ? 200.501. Please refer to the Notice of Funding Opportunities posted on www.Grants.gov. Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-federal entity records pertinent to a federal award generally must be maintained for at least three years from the date the final FFR is submitted. See 2 C.F.R. ? 200.334. Further, if the recipient does not submit a final FFR and the award is administratively closed, FEMA uses the date of administrative closeout as the start of the general record retention period. The record retention period may be longer than three years or have a different start date in certain cases. Please refer to the Notice of Funding Opportunities posted on www.Grants.gov. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is voluntary. Cost share is required for most subapplications funded under this program. FEMA may contribute the federal cost share funding if available, as follows: i. Capability and Capacity Building Activities federal cost share options: a. Up to 90% federal cost share funding if the average Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Social Vulnerability Index (SVI ) score is not less than 0.5001 for the benefiting area(s) substantiated by a benefiting area map. The activity must be funded by the BIL, or b. Up to 75% federal cost share funding if a higher federal cost share is not available. ii. Localized Flood Risk Reduction Project federal cost share options: a. Up to 90% federal cost share funding if the average CDC SVI score is not less than 0.5001 for the project benefiting area containing NFIP-insured properties, and the activity must be funded by the BIL, or b. Up to 75% federal cost share funding if a higher cost share is not available. iii. Individual Flood Mitigation Project federal cost share options and definitions: a. Up to 100% federal cost share funding for FMA defined Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) (B)(i) or (B)(ii) properties in 42 U.S.C. § 4104c(h)(3), is a structure that: i. Is covered under a contract for flood insurance made available under the NFIP; and ii. Has incurred flood-related damage 1. ((B)(i)) For which four or more separate claims payments (includes building and contents) have been made under flood insurance coverage with the amount of each such claim exceeding $5,000, and with the cumulative amount of such claim payments exceeding $20,000, or 2. ((B)(ii)) For which at least two separate claims payments (includes only building) have been made under such coverage, with the cumulative amount of such claims exceeding the market value of the insured structure. iii. To receive an increased federal cost share under these provisions, properties must meet the FMA SRL definition. Applicants and subapplicants that are requesting an increased federal cost share must submit documentation with their application or subapplication demonstrating that properties meet the definition. b. Up to 90% federal cost share funding for FMA defined Repetitive Loss (RL) properties in 42 U.S.C. § 4121(a)(7) is a structure covered by a contract for flood insurance made available under the NFIP that: i. Has incurred flood-related damage on two occasions, in which the cost of the repair, on the average, equaled or exceeded 25 percent of the market value of the structure at the time of each such flood event; and ii. At the time of the second incidence of flood-related damage, the contract for flood insurance contains Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) coverage. iii. To receive an increased federal cost share under these provisions, properties must meet the FMA RL definition. Applicants and subapplicants that are requesting an increased federal cost share must submit documentation with their application or subapplication demonstrating that properties meet this definition. c. Up to 90% federal cost share funding for each NFIP-insured property located within a census tract with a CDC SVI score is not less than 0.5001, and the activity must be funded by the BIL, or d. Up to 75% federal cost share funding if a higher federal cost share is not available. To note, the Individual Flood Mitigation Project’s Repetitive Loss (RL) 90% federal cost share and the Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) 100% federal cost share options are only eligible for those NFIP properties meeting FMA definitions under 42 U.S.C. § 4104c(h)(3) and 42 U.S.C. § 4121(a)(7). These federal cost shares are not available for NFIP defined SRL and RL properties. Generally, the cost share for this program is 75% federal cost share and 25% non-federal cost share. This means federal funding is available for up to 75% of eligible costs. The remaining 25% of eligible costs must be derived from non-federal sources. For example, if the total cost of the activity is $400,000 and the non-federal cost share is 25%, then the non-federal contribution is $100,000: 25%of $400,000 is $100,000. The non-federal contribution would be provided by the applicant or subapplicant. Likewise, the federal cost share of that activity would be $300,000: 75% of $400,000 is $300,000. The federal contribution would be provided by FEMA. FEMA may consider the non-federal cost share based on availability of remaining federal funds, as noted in Section E, Application Review Information of this funding opportunity As a result of FMA funding made available under the BIL, FEMA may contribute up to 90% federal cost share for qualifying FY 2023 funding priorities and criteria. Subapplicants and applicants can view their CDC SVI score at: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/placeandhealth/svi/data_documentation_download.html. When BIL funding is exhausted, the enhanced cost share for properties with CDC SVI not less than 0.5001 as defined in BIL cannot be extended to the remaining fu

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Please refer to the Notices of Funding Opportunities posted on www.Grants.gov. Assistance will be awarded or released dependent on the selected project and based on project need. Payment based on Project need. See Regional Assistance Locations. See Regional Agency Offices. See https://www.fema.gov/fema-regional-contacts for the list of addresses of Federal Emergency Management Agency Regional Offices Gerilee Bennett
400 C Street SW
Washington, DC 20472 US
gerilee.bennett@fema.dhs.gov
Phone: 202-646-4173
Fax: 2026462880 http://www.fema.gov 70-0701-0-1-453 (Project Grants) FY 22$800,000,000.00; FY 23 est $650,000,000.00; FY 24 est $650,000,000.00; FY 21$200,000,000.00; FY 20$200,000,000.00; - (Project Grants) FY 22 FY 23 FY 24 - From Fiscal Year (FY) 1996 to FY 2019, FMA obligated over $1.5 billion in federal share mitigating over 8,000 properties insured by the NFIP. The smallest award submitted for FY22 was $25,000. The largest award submitted for FY22 was $50,000,000. Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program and Policy Guide | FEMA.gov Fiscal Year 2020 Mitigation projects that address community flood risk for the purpose of reducing NFIP flood claim payments
Fiscal Year 2021 Example of eligible project types include: acquisition-demolition and acquisition-relocation; elevation of existing structures to the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) or an Advisory Base Flood Elevation (ABFE) or higher; minor localized flood risk reduction projects; and dry-flood proofing (historic properties and non-residential structures).
Fiscal Year 2023 Risk reduction activities that lessen the impact of disasters on infrastructure, people, and property. Risk-informed planning and prioritization of mitigation needs.