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Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and
Risk Management
Crisis and Emergency Management
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NOTICE: The ICDRM's monthly emergency managment forum, held at the GWU |
| February
2003
Volume 4 - Number 1 |
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Links:
Current events
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Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
By Molly Weber
Hazard mitigation is still a relatively new field in comparison to the more traditional areas of emergency management – preparedness, response, and recovery. However, it is expanding, and awareness and promotion of mitigation activities is increasing. Mitigation programs are growing in number. One such program is the federally-funded Hazard Mitigation Grant Program operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act authorizes HMGP. The program makes a limited amount of federal funds available to states and local governments to put long-term hazard mitigation measures in to place following a Presidential Disaster Declaration. The ultimate goal of HMGP is to reduce the loss of property and life as a result of natural disasters. This grant program allows and encourages recipients to engage in hazard mitigation activities to occur during the immediate disaster recovery period. Only state and local governments, Indian tribes or other tribal organizations, and certain non-profit organizations may apply for funds; these entities may apply on behalf of a group of individuals. Applications, with project proposals, are submitted directly to the State, which serves as the grantee on behalf of FEMA and the federal government. The State determines which projects are granted funding. Projects must address meet five criteria: · Correspond with the State’s Hazard Mitigation Plan · Result in a beneficial impact on the disaster area · Meet with the environmental requirements of the local, State and Federal government · Solve a hazard problem independently · Must be cost-effective Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding has expanded from its original cap of 5 percent of the total disaster grants awarded by FEMA. Now up to 15 or 20 percent of the total disaster grants can be earmarked for mitigation activities. The money granted by FEMA can only cover 75 percent of the eligible costs of projects. The remaining 25 percent must come from the State itself. Since HMGP was established in the 1980s, several states have implemented a number of successful mitigation projects. Some successes include: · Wind shutter retrofit program – 220 individual projects throughout Florida from 1992 to 1998 ($26.9 million in HMGP funds) · Costal Construction Control Line (CCCL) – adopted throughout Florida from 1982 to 1991 · Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Storm Water Services (NC)- flood proofing commercial property vulnerable to repeated flooding · Numerous buy-out programs across the U.S. of property located in flood plains. Other examples include retrofitting structures to decrease damages caused by high winds, earthquake, flood, wildfire; elevation of flood prone structures; minor local flood control projects; and post-disaster building code related measures during the reconstruction period. The future of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is unclear. The current Bush Administration is looking to quell the program. The fiscal year 2002 budget proposed a reduction in the amount of funds available under the program. The Administration favors programs for pre-disaster mitigation. For additional information on FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, please visit FEMA’s website at www.fema.gov/ or your State Hazard Mitigation Officer. The following links provide detailed information on the mitigation projects in Florida and North Carolina: NC: http://www.dem.dcc.state.nc.us/mitigation/document_index.htm FL: http://www.dca.state.fl.us/BRM/Mit_Success/mit_success_fwd.htm Molly Weber M.A., International Affairs |