Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program and Policy Guide

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FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) programs provide funding for eligible mitigation activities that protect life and property from future disaster damage to build a more resilient nation.

FEMA has released the 2024 HMA Program and Policy Guide (HMA Guide). This release reflects policy changes and stakeholder feedback received since the 2023 HMA Guide publication.

The HMA Guide provides helpful information for prospective applicants and subapplicants from state, local, tribal and territorial governments on the application and grant processes for four hazard mitigation grant programs.

The 2024 HMA Guide update incorporates feedback from applicants, subapplicants and FEMA regions nationwide. Building on the comprehensive effort to update the HMA Guide in 2023, these insights and recommendations help make the guidance as clear and user-friendly as possible by:

• Clarifying and consolidating guidance to reduce redundancy and unnecessary language.
• Making corrections.
• Providing new and expanded content by incorporating new policies, clarifications, administrative updates, and updated project specific information.

The 2024 HMA Guide continues to improve FEMA’s guidance around climate resilience. Notable 2024 changes include updating the eligibility for projects addressing extreme temperature, incorporating air quality considerations in the wildfire section, integrating drought content from the Drought Mitigation Policy Aid and consolidating application guidance for early warning systems. 

Other key updates include clarifications and updated policies in strategic funds management, phased projects, benefit-cost analysis, building codes, capability and capacity building and mitigation planning.

A full list of changes made since the 2023 update can be found in part 15 of the 2024 HMA Guide.

The HMA Guide covers four mitigation grant programs: 

• Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)
• Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA)
• Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
• Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Post Fire (HMGP Post Fire)

The effective date of the HMA Guide is July 30, 2024. The 2024 HMA Guide supersedes the 2023 HMA Guide and all the policies and guidance issued between March 23, 2023 and July 30, 2024, and applies to the HMA programs as follows:

• For Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities and Flood Mitigation Assistance, the 2024 HMA Guide applies to applications/subapplications submitted and awards/subawards made under BRIC and Flood Mitigation Assistance NOFOs issued on or after July 30, 2024.
• For the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, the 2024 HMA Guide applies to major disaster declarations issued on or after July 30, 2024, unless indicated otherwise.
• For the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Post Fire, the 2024 HMA Guide applies to Fire Management Assistance Grant declarations issued on or after October 1, 2023, through the entirety of the open application period.

For information on HMA programs not covered in the HMA Guide, visit the following pages:

• Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund Program
• Pre-Disaster Mitigation Congressionally Directed Spending

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