Flood Mitigation Assistance (97.029)
Program
97.029 Flood Mitigation Assistance
Federal Agency
Agency: Department of Homeland Security
Authorization
National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended by the Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004, Public Law 108-264.
Program Number
97.029
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To assist States, Indian tribal governments, and communities to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Types of Assistance
PROJECT GRANTS
Uses and Use Restrictions
States, Territories, local and Federally-recognized Indian tribal governments may apply for FMA funding to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to residential properties insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Eligible activities under this program include: acquisition and relocation of at-risk structures and the conversion of property to open space; elevation of existing structures to the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) or an ABFE Advisory Base Flood Elevation (ABFE) or higher; minor physical localized flood control projects; and dry-flood proofing (historic properties only).
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants Technical Assistance Grants are State agencies or departments that are responsible for administering the FMA program. Eligible applicants for Planning Grants are States and communities participating in the NFIP. Suspended communities or communities on probation under the NFIP are not eligible. Eligible applicants for Project Grants are States and communities participating in the NFIP, and with a FEMA-approved Flood Mitigation Plan. Suspended communities or communities on probation under the NFIP are not eligible.
Beneficiary Eligibility
States and communities.
Credentials/Documentation
Grant awards will be determined in accordance with OMB Circulars No. A-102 and No. A-87 for State and local governments. Awards made to Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Non-Profit Organizations will be required to follow the requirements of OMB Circulars No. A-110 and No. A-21. Federally recognized Indian tribal governments and local governments that are sub-applicants must be participating in the NFIP.
Eligible applicants include State emergency management agencies or a similar office (i.e., the office that has primary emergency management or floodplain management responsibility) of the State; District of Columbia; U.S. Virgin Islands; the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; American Samoa; Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; Guam; and Federally-recognized Indian tribal governments. Specific information on sub-applicant eligibility, and application procedures for Federally-recognized Indian tribal governments, is provided in the Severe Repetitive Loss program guidance. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. 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.
Application Procedure
OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Application deadline and other information are contained in the application/program guidance.
Award Procedure
Applications or plans are reviewed by DHS 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.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Not Applicable.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
Not Applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
Matching Requirements: An applicant's FMA project and planning target allocation is based on the national percentage of NFIP policies present within the jurisdiction. An applicant may apply for funding up to or exceeding its target allocation.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Refer to program guidance. Awards are subject to the Cash Management Improvement Act for payment and/or reimbursement of expenditures. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Payment based on Project need.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Grantees are required to submit quarterly financial and performance reports. Quarterly Progress Reports must include the progress of each sub-grant award. Reports are due 30 days after the end of each quarter; January 30, April 30, July 30 and October 30. Final financial and performance reports are due 90 days after the expiration or termination of grant award. Refer to program guidance. Refer to program guidance. Refer to program guidance. Refer to program guidance.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. These audits are due to the cognizant Federal agency, submitted through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse, not later than 9 months after the end of the grantees fiscal year.
Records
Grant records shall be retained for a period of 3 years from the day the recipient submits its final expenditure report. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit, or other action involving the records has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records must be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues which arise from it, or until the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later. Grant records include financial and program/progress reports, support documents, statistical records, and other documents that support the activity and/or expenditure of the recipient or sub-recipient under the award.
Program Accomplishments
Not Applicable.
Financial Information
Account Identification
70-0701-0-1-453.
Obligations
(Project Grants) FY 08 $41,000,000; FY 09 est $41,000,000; FY 10 est $41,000,000
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Not available.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
The Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) and Flood Mitigation Assistance ( FMA) Program Regulations at 44 CFR Part 79; the DHS FEMA Real Property Acquisition Regulations at 44 CFR Part 80, and the SRL program guidance. Other guidelines include OMB Circular No. A-102, Grants and Cooperative Agreements with State and local Governments, and OMB Circular No. A-87, Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian Tribal Governments. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs. Local Governments and Federally-recognized Indian Tribal (if applying through the State) sub-applicants should consult the office or officials designated as the single point of contact in his or her state for more information on the process that the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance. The Hazard Mitigation Assistance Unified grant program guidance, which is available to the public on the FEMA Internet site: http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/fma/index.shtm
Related Programs
97.039 Hazard Mitigation Grant; 97.047 Pre-Disaster Mitigation; 97.092 Repetitive Flood Claims; 97.110 Severe Loss Repetitive Program
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices. See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a listing of addresses of FEMA's Regional Offices.
Headquarters Office
Lloyd Hake, Chief, Grants Implementation Branch, Risk Reduction Division, Mitigation Directorate, Federal Emergency Management Agency 1800 South Bell Street, Arlington, Virginia 20595-3015 Email: Lloyd.Hake@dhs.gov Phone: 202-646-3428
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2008: Acquisition and relocation of structures from hazard-prone areas. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Project Grants: Minimum Project Eligibility Criteria: The extent to which proposals are cost effective, conform with applicable Federal and State regulations and executive orders, are technically feasible, conform with the Flood Mitigation Plan, are physically located in an eligible community, or benefit such a community directly. Planning Grants are selected based on whether proposals are for eligible activities such as: conducting local planning discussions; contracting for consulting technical services such as engineering and planning; surveying structures at risk; and assessing structures subject to repetitive flood loss. Technical Assistance Grants are selected based on whether proposals are for eligible activities such as: conducting community site visits; reviewing draft applications and plans; participating in planning meetings; providing planning workshops/materials; and, providing grants management workshops/materials.
