Pre-Disaster Mitigation (97.047)
Program
97.047 Pre-Disaster Mitigation
Federal Agency
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Authorization
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Section 203, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5206, as amended by Section 102 of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000.
Program Number
97.047
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To provide States and communities with a much needed source of pre-disaster mitigation funding for cost-effective hazard mitigation activities that are part of a comprehensive mitigation program, and that reduce injuries, loss of life, and damage and destruction of property.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
States are encouraged to use grants to implement a sustained pre-disaster hazard mitigation program to reduce risk to the population, the costs and disruption to individuals and businesses caused by severe property damage, and the ever-growing cost to all taxpayers of Federal disaster relief efforts. The program is similar to both the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) in that there is an emphasis on "brick and mortar" mitigation projects and that State and local mitigation plans are required prior to approval of mitigation project grants. Allowable costs will be governed by 44 CFR Part 13, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments and OMB Circular A-87, Cost Principles for State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Any State, including the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands, and the Mariana Islands, is eligible as well as Indian tribal governments.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Grantee eligibility. State and Indian tribal governments are eligible to apply for assistance as a grantee under the PDM program. Sub-grantee eligibility. Local governments and Indian tribal governments are eligible to apply to the grantee for assistance as a sub-grantee under the PDM program. In order for floodprone communities to receive funds, applicants must be participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (if they have been mapped through the NFIP) and must be in good standing (not on probation or suspension).
Credentials/Documentation
Grant awards will be determined in accordance with OMB Circulars No. A-102, Grants and Cooperative Agreements with State and Local Governments and A-87, Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian Tribal Governments.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
FEMA will allocate the PDM funds annually to each FEMA Region for distribution among the States. FEMA will notify eligible States of the expected funding amounts prior to the beginning of each fiscal year. Local governments should consult the official designated point of contact in their State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
The State point of contact reviews, prioritizes, and selects from local government applicants. The State submits an application to FEMA identifying the eligible mitigation activities for which funding is requested. Applications may be submitted through the electronic grants process when established by FEMA, or may be submitted in a paper format, and must include: (1) Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance, (2) FEMA Form 20-15 Budget Information-Construction Programs, (3) FEMA Form 20-20 Budget Information-Non-construction Programs, (4) 20-16(A)-(C) Assurances and Certifications, (5) Standard Form LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, and (6) Program Narrative identifying the activities for which funding is requested.
Award Procedure
The total award is to be used as specified in the approved application. In compliance with Federal laws and executive orders, FEMA will conduct the final environmental review and approval for all activities.
Deadlines
Applications for grants must be submitted to the Regional Director by October 1 of each year, or such later date as the FEMA Director may establish.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Not applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
FEMA will contribute up to 75 percent of the cost of activities approved for funding. At least 25 percent of the total eligible costs will be provided from a nonfederal source. Grants awarded to small and impoverished communities may receive a Federal cost share of up to 90 percent of the total cost to implement eligible PDM activities. FEMA has adopted the Environmental Protection Agency's definition for a Small and Impoverished Community, which must meet all of the following criteria: it must be a community of 3,000 or fewer individuals that is identified by the State as a rural community, and is not a remote area within the corporate boundaries of a larger city; it must be economically disadvantaged, with residents having an average per capita annual income not exceeding 80 percent of national per capita income, based on best available data; it must have a local unemployment rate that exceeds by one percentage point or more, the most recently reported, average yearly national unemployment rate; and it must meet any other factors identified in the State Plan in which the community is located. All contributions, cash and in-kind, are accepted as part of the nonfederal matching share. Except as allowed by Federal statute, no other Federal grant funds can be used as a match. The following documentation is required for matching contributions: record of source of donor, dates, rates, amounts, and deposit slips (cash contributions only). Requirements for in-kind contributions can be found in OMB Circular A-102, Common Rule, 44 CFR 13.24.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Grants are awarded for the total dollar amount, but the release of the funds is on an as needed basis. The initial performance period for the entire grant shall not exceed 24 months. If performance reports reveal that there is no work in progress implementing the grant or any sub-grant, FEMA will determine whether or not to extend the performance period.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Grantees are required to submit quarterly financial and performance reports. The grantee will also report the progress of each sub-grant award in their quarterly reports, per 44 CFR Part 13.40 and 41. Reports are due 30 days after the end of each quarter. Report dates are January 30, April 30, July 31, and October 30. Final financial and performance reports are due 90 days after the expiration or termination of grant support, per 44 CFR Part 13.50. Reports are to be submitted to the FEMA Regional Director.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
Grant records include financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical records, and other records of recipient or sub-recipient which are required to be maintained by 44 CFR Part 13.42, program regulations or the grant agreement. 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.
Program Accomplishments
None.
Financial Information
Account Identification
70-0700-0-1-453.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 02 $25,000,000; FY 03 est $148,810,373; and FY 04 est not available.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Subject to availability of funds, the amount of assistance available to a State (including amounts made available to local governments of a State) shall not be less than the lesser of $500,000 or one percent of total funds appropriated and shall not exceed 15 percent of the total funds appropriated in any fiscal year.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
For fiscal year 2002 funds, awards will be governed by Section 203 of the Stafford Act, the Federal Register Notice of availability of Pre-Disaster Mitigation grants, and program guidance, which will be made available to the public on the FEMA internet site: www.fema.gov. It is anticipated that proposed program regulations will be available in fiscal year 2002 and should be effective for fiscal year 2003 PDM grants.
Related Programs
97.039, Hazard Mitigation Grant; 97.029, Flood Mitigation Assistance; 97.041, National Dam Safety Program; 97.023, Community Assistance Program_State Support Services Element (CAP-SSSE).
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Appendix IV of the Catalog for the list of addresses of Federal Emergency Management Agency Regional Offices.
Headquarters Office
Department of Homeland Security 245 Murray Drive, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20528 Tel. (202) 282-8000.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
None.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
In selecting and prioritizing the local and Indian tribal governments to receive assistance, the State should take into consideration the priorities established in the State Mitigation Plan and relevant criteria under Section 203(g) of the Stafford Act.
