Fiscal Year 2015 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Guidance and Addendum

The purpose of this policy clarification is to implement policy changes in Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) programs based on requirements related to houses of worship established in the  Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (Public Law No: 115-123) (BBA).  The policy changes are as follows: (1) HMA will include a house of worship in the definition of a private nonprofit (PNP), distinct from other PNPs such as community centers;  (2) a house of worship, with properly documented PNP status,  will be eligible to receive HMGP funding as a subapplicant; (3) HMA will fund eligible mitigation activities for a house of worship, as it would for any eligible PNP facility, including retrofitting and elevation which primarily benefit the house of worship; and, (4) the definition of private nonprofit organization (or facility) in the HMA Guidance (2015) at Part III.B (in box) and Part VIII.A.6 is changed from “essential governmental service(s)” to “essential social service(s)”.

This document identifies text replacements in the HMA Guidance established in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (Public Law No: 115-123) (BBA) regarding houses of worship eligibility as subapplicants under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).

FEMA will make this change effective for all assistance provided in response to major disasters declared on or after August 23, 2017, or for any application for assistance under the PDM or FMA programs that was pending before FEMA as of February 9, 2018.

This addendum supplements the information provided in the HMA Guidance.

This document provides general information on the FY15 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Guidance.

This document identifies text replacements in the HMA Guidance after the adoption of Hazard Mitigation Assistance Acquisition Projects: Hydraulic Fracturing and Horizontal Directional Drilling (FEMA Policy 302-094-03 ). As of July 7, 2017, the policy is eligible to all HMA grants.

For more information visit:
- Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants Policy
- Hazard Mitigation Assistance Acquisition Projects: Hydraulic Fracturing and Horizontal Directional Drilling (FEMA Policy 302-094-03)

This guidance applies to HMGP disasters declared on or after February 27, 2015 unless indicated otherwise. This guidance is also applicable to the PDM and FMA program.