Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants

Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants are provided to Washington state jurisdictions and tribal governments to reduce the effects of natural hazards and mitigate vulnerability to future disaster damage. If you would like to be added to our mailing list, please send an email to HMA@mil.wa.gov.

Mitigation Grant Program Guidance

FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance Unified Guidance (February 27, 2015 edition) covers all requirements related to the DR-4309 HMGP round (e.g., applicant and proposal eligibility, funding caps, cost shares, information on specific project types, and other programmatic details).  It is available for free download on FEMA’s Publications website. 

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)

This state-managed program is available only after a Presidential Declaration of Major Disaster. The program funds mitigation planning initiatives and cost-effective mitigation projects designed to reduce or eliminate the effects and costs of future disaster damage. Upon approval of the governor and state legislature, the state may pay a portion of the applicant’s cost share. More information about this program (Factsheet as a PDF)

DR-4418 Grant Round

On March 4, 2019, Federal Disaster Declaration DR-4418 was granted to the state of Washington triggering a new HMGP round.While HMGP is competitive and open to all eligible entities in the state, grant applications from eligible entities within the declared and affected counties will be given priority status. For DR-4418, the declared and affected counties are as follows:

• Declared counties: Clallam, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, Mason, Pacific, Snohomish and Whatcom.
• Affected (but not declared) counties: King, Kitsap, Lewis, Pierce, Skagit and Thurston.

Please note that the deadline for submitting a Pre-Application is Friday, June 28, 2019 at 5 p.m. Pre-Applications must be submitted using the Pre-Application under “Resources” (below) and sent to HMA@mil.wa.gov.
Full information about this round can be found here:
• 4418 Official Announcement (PDF)
• 4418 HMA Fact Sheet (PDF)

Please send your questions to our Hazard Mitigation Assistance all-staff e-mail address: HMA@mil.wa.gov.

HMGP Post Fire Mitigation

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding is now available for every Fire Mitigation Assistance Grant (FMAG) declared during calendar years 2017 and 2018 within the state of Washington. This new grant funding is prioritized for pre- and post-wildfire risk reduction projects in the declared counties but is competitively available statewide. Standard HMGP eligibility criteria apply. Each new FMAG in 2018 will trigger a new HMGP grant opportunity.

Pre-applications should be submitted to WA EMD via email to HMA@mil.wa.gov.

The counties specifically named in FMAG declarations are given priority consideration for these grants. Pre-Applications from eligible entities within these counties will be prioritized only if submitted by the following deadlines:  

Pre-Applications from all other eligible entities will be considered on a competitive basis, as grant funds are available, and must be submitted no later than Sept. 30, 2018. Submissions from eligible entities within prioritized counties will also be accepted up to September 30th, 2018 but may not receive priority consideration.

• Fact Sheet (PDF)
  
• Pre-Application Form  (Word)

Pre-Disaster Mitigation

This annually available, nationally competitive program provides funds for hazard mitigation measures designed to reduce injuries, loss of life, and damage and destruction of property. Grants are available for mitigation planning initiatives and cost-effective mitigation projects. Small, impoverished communities and Tribes may be eligible for a 90 percent federal cost share. For more information, contact David Spicer, Hazard Mitigation Programs Manager, (253) 512-7082; david.spicer@mil.wa.gov.

Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program FY 2018 Sub-application Status

This page provides the status of the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) planning and project sub-applications that were submitted to FEMA through Washington State Emergency Management Division for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 application cycle.

FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs provide funding to protect life and property from future natural disasters. The PDM grant program is designed to implement a sustained pre-disaster natural hazard mitigation program to reduce overall risk to the population and structures from future hazard events, while also reducing reliance on Federal funding in future disasters.

For FY 2018, $250 million was appropriated for PDM nationwide and made available for grants.

Nationally, FEMA received 579 sub-applications from 90 applicants (42 of which were federally-recognized Indian Tribal Governments) totaling $512.5 million: 226 planning, 298 projects, and 55 applicant management costs.  FEMA has completed its eligibility review to ensure compliance with HMA Guidance and has made selections based on the agency’s priorities and available funding.

In Washington State, FEMA received 16 sub-applications from 15 applicants totaling $47.9 million: 3 planning, 13 projects, and 1 applicant management costs. 

Nationally, FEMA designated 359 PDM sub-applications from 72 applicants (27 of which are Indian Tribal Governments) as  Identified for further review: 190 planning, 120 projects, and 49 associated applicant management costs totaling $247.3 million.

In Washington State, FEMA designated 12 PDM sub-applications from 12 applicants as  Identified for Further Review: 3 planning, 8 projects, and 1 associated applicant management costs totaling $28.8 million.

The table below lists the submitted PDM planning and project sub-applications from WA State and their respective status by jurisdiction. Further explanation of the status is provided below the table.

Identified for Further Review: An application which is listed as “identified for further review” is not a notification of award. This means that a sub-application has met the requirements specified in the NOFO and the HMA Guidance.  The applicant (WA EMD) will work  with FEMA Region X  to complete the pre-award activities for sub-applications. Regional Offices will also complete the Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) compliance review for projects prior to award. 

Not Selected: Each year, the number of applicants for grant funding exceeds what is available.  FEMA offers two recommendations for sub-applications that met the program requirements but are not selected due to limited program funding. One recommendation is that the applicant may re-submit the sub-application during the open period of the FY 2019 PDM or Flood Mitigation Assistance grant program. Or, if funding is available, an application can be submitted to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

Did Not Meet HMA Requirements: For applications submitted that are identified as “Did Not Meet HMA Requirements,” the FEMA Regional Office will provide further information to applicants on why sub-applications did not meet these requirements.

Not Eligible: The sub-application did not meet minimum HMA program eligibility criteria.

Requests for Reconsideration: FEMA will reconsider its determination of a sub-application only when there is an indication of a substantive technical or procedural error by FEMA. Only information provided in the submitted sub-application is considered supporting documentation for the request for reconsideration. The amount of funding available for applicant management costs will not be reconsidered. WA EMD must send requests for reconsideration with merit to the FEMA Region X  Office within 60 days of the posting of sub-application status (June 19, 2019). The Regional Office will review the information and submit the regional recommendation to FEMA’s Headquarters. FEMA Headquarters will make a final determination to overturn or uphold the original decision and send the response to the applicant. A FEMA decision to uphold or overturn a decision regarding a sub-application is final.

Flood Mitigation Assistance

This annually available program provides funds for cost-effective measures that reduce the risk of flood damage to structures that have flood insurance coverage. Grants are available for planning initiatives to update the flood hazard portion of an applicant’s hazard mitigation plan and for cost-effective flood mitigation projects. Funding for properties that meet the repetitive loss or severe repetitive loss thresholds is available at a 90 percent and 100 percent federal cost share, respectively. Funding for all other Flood Mitigation Assistance grants are available at a 75 percent federal cost share. There are no longer separate Repetitive Flood Claim and Severe Repetitive Loss grant programs. For more information, contact David Spicer, Hazard Mitigation Programs Manager, (253) 512-7082; david.spicer@mil.wa.gov.

Flood Mitigation Assistance FY 2018 Sub-application Status

FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs provide funding to protect life and property from future natural disasters. The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program assists States, Tribal, Territorial, and local governments in reducing or eliminating claims under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

For FY 2018, $160 million was appropriated for FMA nationwide and was made available for grants. Nationally, FEMA received 222 FMA sub-applications submitted by 29 states and territories totaling over $304.6 million, including: 26 planning, 164 projects, 7 technical assistance, and 25 applicant management cost sub-applications.

In Washington State, FEMA received 4 FMA sub-applications submitted by 4 jurisdictions totaling over $1.9 million, including: 3 projects and 1 applicant management cost sub-application.

FEMA has completed eligibility reviews to ensure compliance with HMA Guidance and has made selections based on the agency’s priorities and available funding. FEMA has identified for further review 130 FMA sub-applications from 24 applicants: 22 planning (includes 15 Community Mitigation Advance Assistance), 81 projects (includes 8 Community Flood Mitigation projects), 7 technical assistance sub-applications, and 20 applicant management costs for $158.9 million.

In Washington State, FEMA identified for further review 3 FMA sub-applications from 3 applicants, including: 2 flood mitigation projects and 1 applicant management cost sub-application totaling over $1.3 million.

The table below lists the submitted project and management cost sub-applications and the status of each in Washington State for the Flood Mitigation Assistance FY 2018 grant round.  Further explanation of the status is provided in the Definitions section below the table.

Definitions:

Identified for Further Review: An application which is listed as “Identified for Further Review” is not a notification of award. This means that a sub-application has met the requirements specified in the NOFO and the HMA Unified Guidance. At this time, the applicants are required to work with a FEMA Regional Office to complete the pre-award activities for sub-applications. Regional Offices will also complete the Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) compliance review for projects prior to award.

Not Selected: Each year, the number of applicants for grant funding exceeds what is available. FEMA offers two recommendations for sub-applications that met the program requirements but are not selected due to limited program funding. One recommendation is that the applicant may re-submit the sub-application during the open period of the FY 2019 FMA or Pre-Disaster Mitigation grant program. Or, if funding is available, an application can be submitted to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

Did Not Meet Hazard Mitigation Assistance Requirements: For applications submitted that are identified as “Did Not Meet HMA Requirements,” the FEMA Regional Office will provide further information to applicants on why sub-applications did not meet these requirements.

Request for Reconsideration: FEMA will reconsider its determination of a sub-application only when there is an indication of a substantive technical or procedural error by FEMA. Only information provided in the submitted sub-application is considered supporting documentation for the request for reconsideration. The amount of funding available for applicant management costs will not be reconsidered. WA EMD must send requests with merit for reconsideration to FEMA Region X within 60 days of the posting of sub-application status (June 19, 2019). The Regional Office will review the information and submit the regional recommendation to FEMA’s Headquarters. FEMA Headquarters will make a final determination to overturn or uphold the original decision and send the response to the applicant. A FEMA decision to uphold or overturn a decision regarding a sub-application is final.

Resources

Pre-Application Form  (Word)

Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance Guidance

Addendum- Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance Guidance

Resolution Designating Applicant Agent (PDF)

Certification of Consistency with WA CZM Program (PDF)

FEMA Certifications (PDF)

Quarterly Progress Report for Project Grants (Word)

Quarterly Progress Report for Planning Grants (Word)

Webinars

Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP)

Eligible Activities

Developing a Scope of Work for Projects; Budget and Cost Estimate Development

Developing a Scope of Work for Planning

Recommended FEMA Independent Study Courses

Mitigation Grants
IS-212: Introduction to Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA)
IS-30: eGrants for Sub-Applicants
IS-276: Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) Fundamentals
IS-277: Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) Entry Level
IS-253: Overview of FEMA’s Environmental and Historic Preservation Review

Mitigation Basics
IS-393: Introduction to Hazard Mitigation
IS-318: Mitigation Planning for Local and Tribal Communities
IS-320: Wildfire Mitigation Basics
IS-322: Flood Mitigation Basics
IS-323: Earthquake Mitigation Basics
Flood Insurance Rate Map Tutorial (FIRM)
Flood Insurance Studies Tutorial (FIS)

Additional Resources:

FEMA 2015 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Unified Guidance (link)
FEMA 2015 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Unified Guidance Addendum (link)
Hazard Mitigation Assistance (FEMA)
The Hazard Mitigation Assistance 4-Page Grant Programs Brochure(PDF)
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Tri-Fold Brochure (PDF)
Hazard Mitigation Assistance Brochure (PDF)
Hazard Mitigation Fact Sheet (PDF)

For questions and assistance, contact:

Note: To better serve our partners we have created a group e-mail account.

Emails sent to HMA@mil.wa.gov are received by all HMA staff to ensure prompt responses.

Timothy Cook
State Hazard Mitigation Officer
(253) 512-7072; tim.cook@mil.wa.gov

Michael Levkowitz
Hazard Mitigation Strategist
(253) 512-7467; michael.levkowitz@mil.wa.gov

David Spicer
Hazard Mitigation Programs Manager
(253) 512-7082; david.spicer@mil.wa.gov

Debbie Meador
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Coordinator
(253) 512-7460; debera.meador@mil.wa.gov

Reagan Bush
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Coordinator
(253) 512-7042; reagan.bush@mil.wa.gov

Sue Enders
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Coordinator
(253) 512-7177; sue.enders@mil.wa.gov

Tammi Garofalo
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Assistant
(253) 512-7070; tammi.garofalo@mil.wa.gov

For any general questions, or if you would like to be added to our mailing list, please contact HMA@mil.wa.gov.