FLOOD04112

• County: Statewide
• Community: Nationwide
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Desk Reference
• Date: 10/1/1999
• Prepared By: FEMA
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Historic FEMA Regulatory Floodplain Information

e

e

e

The Hazard
Mitigation
Grant
Program: An
Evolving
Resource

One Tool in
the State's
Ongoing
Mitigation
Program

Intent

Section 1: Introduction to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is a powerful resource in the combined effort
by Federal, State, and local government, as well as private industry and homeowners,
to end the cycle of repetitive disaster damage,

The Robert T. Stafford Disastel Relief and Emergency Assistance Act was passed on
November 23,1988, amending Public Law 93.288, the Disaster Relief Act of 1974,
The Stafford Act included Section 404, which established the Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program, In 1993, the Hazard Mitigation and Relocation Act amended Section 404 to
increase the amount of HMGP funds available and the cost-share to 75 percent
Federal. This amendment also encouraged the use of property acquisition and other
non-structural flood mitigation measures,

In an effort to streamline HMGP delivery, FEMA encourages States to develop their
mitigation programs before disaster strikes, States are adopting a more active HMGP
management role. Increased capabilities may include:

. Conducting comprehensive all.hazard mitigation planning prior to disaster events;

. Providing applicants technical assistance on sound mitigation techniques and
hazard mitigation policy and procedures;

. Coordinating mitigation programs through interagency teams or councils.

. Conducting benefit.cost analyses; and

. Preparing National Environmental Policy Act reviews for FEMA approval.

States that integrate the HMGP with their frequently updated State Administrative and
Hazard Mitigation Plans will create cohesive and effective approaches to loss
reduction. This type of coordinated approach minimizes the distinction between "pre.
disaster" and "post.disaster" time periods, and instead produces an ongoing mitigation
effort,

Project Impact and the HMGP are tools that together assist
States in building disaster-resistant communities, (See page 2-4
for more information.)

Hazard mitigation is any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long.term risk to
people and property from natural hazards and their effects.

A key purpose of the HMGP is to ensure that the opportunity to take critical mitigation
measures to protect life and property from future disasters is not lost during the
recovery and reconstruction process following a disaster.

Program grant funds available under Section 404 of the Stafford Act provide States
with the incentive and capability to implement mitigation measures that previously may
have been infeasible.

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Desk Reference-Draft

Page 1-1