INSIGHTi
Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Assistance
Updated November 4, 2021
Introduction
The majority of funding in the United States for both pre- and post-disaster mitigation comes from the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which defines mitigation as “any sustained action to
reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from natural hazards and their effects.”
Mitigation actions have a long-term impact, as opposed to actions associated with immediate
preparedness, response, and recovery activities. Mitigation has been shown to save money. A recent study
by the Multihazard Mitigation Council found that society saves $6 for every dollar spent on mitigation
funded through major federal mitigation grants.
FEMA administers three hazard mitigation grant programs, collectively referred to as Hazard Mitigation
Assistance (HMA):
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP);
Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Grant Program;
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), which replaced the Pre-
Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant Program.
Eligible applicants include state and local governments and federal y-recognized tribes. Certain nonprofit
organizations may apply for HMGP. Individuals may not apply for HMA funding, but they may benefit
from a community application. Applicants to al three programs must have FEMA-approved hazard
mitigation plans. Eligible activities differ for the three programs.
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is authorized by Section 404 of the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C.
§5170c). HMGP assistance is triggered by a major disaster declaration from the President or a Fire
Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) and is funded through the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF). The key
purpose of the HMGP program is to ensure that the reconstruction process following a disaster addresses
opportunities to include mitigation measures to reduce the loss of life and property from future disasters.
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HMGP funding is awarded as a formula grant to a state based on the estimated total federal assistance per
major disaster declaration or FMAG, subject to a sliding scale formula (42 U.S.C. §5170c(a) and 44
C.F.R. §206.432(b)). HMGP funding normal y does not exceed 15% of the estimated total aggregate
federal grant amount, but states with an approved Enhanced State Mitigation Plan in effect before the
disaster are eligible for HMGP funding of 20% of such amount. States can use HMGP funds for any
eligible activity for any type of hazard and are not limited to the hazard or area for which the grant was
awarded. HMGP funds may be used to pay up to 75% of eligible activity costs. FEMA recently made
$3.46 bil ion available in HMGP funding for the COVID-19 disaster declarations. This funding does not
have to be used for pandemic-related mitigation activities.
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)
Pre-disaster mitigation funding is authorized by Section 203 of the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. §5133), with
the goal of reducing overal risk to the population and structures from future hazard events, while also
reducing reliance on federal funding to respond to future disasters. Pre-disaster mitigation is funded
through the DRF. Until FY2019 the amount available for PDM was appropriated annual y to a separate
account and PDM grants were awarded competitively. Maximum and minimum amounts to each state for
PDM are set in statute, with each applicant eligible to receive an al ocation not less than the lesser of 1%
of total funds for the fiscal year, or $575,000, with no applicant to receive more than 15% of the
appropriated funding.
Changes to Pre-Disaster Mitigation Funding
Funding for pre-disaster mitigation changed significantly with the passage of the Disaster Recovery
Reform Act of 2018 (DRRA, Division D of P.L. 115-254). DRRA authorized a new source of funding
cal ed the National Public Infrastructure Pre-Disaster Mitigation Fund (NPIPDM) For each major disaster
declaration, the President may set aside from the DRF an amount equal to 6% of the estimated aggregate
amount of the grants to be made pursuant to the following sections of the Stafford Act:
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403 (essential assistance)
406 (repair, restoration, and replacement of damaged facilities)
407 (debris removal)
408 (federal assistance to individuals and households)
410 (unemployment assistance)
416 (crisis counseling assistance and training)
428 (public assistance program alternative program procedures)
The funds from this 6% set-aside go to the NPIPDM. There is potential for significantly increased
funding following a year with many big disasters, but funding could also be less in a year with few
disasters. As of September 30, 2021, there was $1.621 bil ion available in the 6% set-aside from the DRF.
FEMA introduced a new program, the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant Program
(BRIC), to replace the PDM Grant Program. Federal funding is general y available for up to 75% of the
eligible activity costs; however, smal , impoverished communities may be eligible for up to a 90% federal
cost share. A total of $1 bil ion is available in FY2021, in three categories:
1. State/territory al ocation: $56 mil ion
2. Tribal set-aside: $25 mil ion
3. National competition: $919 mil ion
Further information on BRIC is available in CRS Insight IN11515, FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation: The
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program.
The Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program (FMA)
To reduce comprehensive flood risk, FEMA also operates a Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program
funded through revenue collected by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), with the goal of
mitigating NFIP-insured flood-damaged properties to reduce or eliminate NFIP claims. FMA funding is
only available to communities which participate in the NFIP. A total of $160 mil ion is available in
FY2021 for FMA.
Congress al ows FEMA to withdraw funds from the National Flood Insurance Fund and use those funds
to operate the NFIP, but the spending authority to use these offsetting collections for FMA must be
authorized in appropriations acts (42 U.S.C. §4017(f)). General y, federal funding is available for up to
75% of eligible costs. However, FEMA may contribute up to 90% for repetitive loss properties and up to
100% for severe repetitive loss properties.
HMA and Environmental Justice
BRIC and FMA have been selected as pilot programs under the Justice40 Initiative, in accordance with
E.O. 14008, and wil prioritize 40% of funding in FY2021 for disadvantaged communities. For further
information, see CRS Insight IN11733, Recent Funding Increases for FEMA Hazard Mitigation
Assistance.
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Author Information
Diane P. Horn
Analyst in Flood Insurance and Emergency Management
Disclaimer
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