INSIGHTi
Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Assistance
Updated December 23, 2022
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. A widely cited 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 and one loan program, collectively referred to
as Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA):
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP);
Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program (FMA);
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), which replaced the Pre-
Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant Program;
Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund Program (STRLF).
Eligible applicants for the grant programs include state and local governments and federally recognized
tribes. Certain nonprofit organizations may apply for HMGP. Eligible entities for STRLF are states, the
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and federally recognized tribes with major disaster declarations in the
five-year period ending January 1, 2021. Individuals may not apply for HMA funding, but they may
benefit from a community application. Applicants to all four programs must have FEMA-approved hazard
mitigation plans.
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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.
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 normally 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. HMGP funds may be used to pay up to
75% of eligible activity costs. 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.
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)
Pre-disaster mitigation (PDM) funding is authorized by Section 203 of the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C.
§5133), with the goal of reducing overall 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 FY2020, the amount available for PDM was appropriated annually to a
separate account and PDM grants were awarded competitively.
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
called 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:
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 November 30, 2022, there was $3.997 billion available in the 6% set-aside from the DRF.
FEMA introduced a new program, the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant Program
(BRIC) in FY2020. Federal funding is generally available for up to 75% of the eligible activity costs;
however, small, impoverished communities may be eligible for up to a 90% federal cost share. The
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) appropriated $1 billion for BRIC, with $200 million in each
of FY2022-FY2026. This funding is in addition to the 6% set-aside.
A total of $2.295 billion is available in FY2022, in three categories:
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1. State/territory allocation: $112 million
2. Tribal set-aside: $50 million
3. National competition: $2.133 billion
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 that participate in the NFIP. Generally, 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.
The IIJA appropriated $3.5 billion for FMA, with $700 million for each of FY2022-FY2026, and a total
of $800 million is available in FY2022 for FMA.
Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund Program (STRLF)
A new program known as the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund Program (STRLF) was
created by the STORM Act, which amended the Stafford Act to authorize FEMA to enter into agreements
with eligible entities to establish low-interest revolving loan funds for hazard mitigation. The STORM Act
authorized the appropriation of $100 million annually for FY2022 and FY2023 to make grants to
capitalize new revolving loan funds. The IIJA appropriated $500 million for the revolving loan program,
with $100 million for each of FY2022-FY2026. FEMA released the first Notice of Funding Opportunity
for the STRLF program on December 20, 2022, with $50 million available for FY2023.
Author Information
Diane P. Horn
Specialist in Flood Insurance and Emergency
Management
Disclaimer
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