Mitigation
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Funding
Ref: 44 CFR 13.24 and 44 CFR 206.432 as amended by the Hazard Mitigation and Relocation Assistance Act of 1993
Match
Federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds made available by a declared disaster can provide up to 75% of the costs of an approved mitigation project. The remaining project costs must be met by the applicant. Generally, other funding sources such as Community Development Block Grant, local and/or state general revenue, and private non-profit funds are used to provide the 25% local/state match, and they may be in form of cash, in-kind resources, or third party in-kind contributions.
In-kind resources are those personnel, materials, equipment and supplies owned, controlled and operated by the applicant. Third party in-kind contributions can be applied toward fulfilling a cost sharing or matching requirement in cases where the payments would have been allowable costs for the approved project, if the applicant were to pay for them. Examples of third party contributions are volunteer services, employee services of other organizations furnished free of charge, donated supplies, and loaned equipment or space. The value placed on these resources must be at their fair market value and be carefully and completely documented.
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds can not be used as a match, substitute or replacement to fund projects or programs that are available under other federal programs. However, applicants are encouraged to link Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds with non-duplicative federal funds, and with state, local and private sources.
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is not intended to fund projects retroactively. The federal environmental process requires that an environmental analysis be completed prior to the commitment of funds. Therefore, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has adopted a policy against retroactive funding of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program projects.
To aid in the long-term recovery efforts associated with this disaster, a representative from the Office of Long-Term Redevelopment will provide technical assistance on other long-term redevelopment initiatives and funding resources available in the declared areas. This assistance will be provided during the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program applicant briefing by representatives from the Division of Housing and Community Development.
Funding Priorities
The states priorities are a major consideration in the selection of projects for funding. Projects will be reviewed according to the scheme below and how well they satisfy the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s eligibility criteria and their support of the State of Florida Mitigation Plan.
Based upon the types of damages associated with the disaster, the State has determined that the project categories listed below will help to reduce future losses within the disaster area. As such, projects submitted for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding will be given priority consideration by the State if they include one of the following:
- Structural Retrofitting of Public Facilities
This could include shuttering, roof and wall tie-downs, flood proofing, or any other measure that will reduce or eliminate future losses to a public facility. Please note that public facilities could include buildings or physical infrastructure. - Structural Retrofit of Residential / Commercial Structures
This could include shuttering, roof and wall tie-downs, flood proofing, elevating, or any other measures that will reduce or eliminate future losses to residential or commercial structures. - Residential Acquisition
Although residential structures need not have received damages to be eligible for acquisition under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, repetitive loss structures are typically shown to be cost-effective projects and, as such, are better project candidates. Additionally, structures that are substantially damaged (as defined in 44 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 59.1) and are located in a flood way or a 100-year floodplain are exempt from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s benefit-cost review requirements. In view of this, the State encourages communities to consider acquiring these structures first. - Small-Scale Improvements to Existing Drainage Facilities
This project category includes existing culverts, retention and detention facilities, and other storm water infrastructure that, if improved, will reduce losses to public and private structures. It is important to note that correction nuisance flooding – that is, minor flooding of streets or yards – is not an eligible project under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The project must not only correct a problem but also ensure loss reduction. - Other Small-Scale Flood Protection Measures to Critical Facilities
This project category includes any measure, other than storm water control, that will reduce losses to public critical facilities. Such projects could include flood barrier walls that protect sewage lift stations and/or portable water well sites; or projects that raise critical infrastructure above the base flood elevation.
