ORLANDO, Fla. – FEMA has approved $3,383,171 for the State of Florida to help the Florida Division of Emergency Management defray administrative costs associated with Hurricane Irma recovery under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
FEMA funds will reimburse the Florida Division of Emergency Management for administrative costs related to managing FEMA HMGP programs and projects for the remainder of the state's fiscal year through June 30, 2020. FDEM was previously awarded $3,000,000 bringing the total to $6,383,171 for HMGP management costs after this award.
Funding for HMGP management costs are authorized under the Robert T. Stafford Act, as amended by the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018.
FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is an important source of federal disaster assistance. HMGP funds may become available following the president’s declaration of a major disaster, and help strengthen communities by improving buildings, facilities and infrastructure that people use every day. A 2018 report from the National Institute of Building Sciences found that one dollar spent on hazard mitigation will save more than six dollars of recovery and rebuilding costs.
Generally, HMGP may provide a state, tribe or territory with additional grants up to 15 percent of the total disaster grants awarded by FEMA for a federally-declared disaster. States such as Florida that meet higher mitigation planning criteria may qualify for a higher percentage.
Florida has a FEMA-approved Enhanced Mitigation Plan, making the state eligible for HMGP funding not to exceed 20 percent of the estimated total amount of money spent by FEMA on disaster grants in the Hurricane Irma disaster. HMGP reimburses the state up for 100 percent of eligible management costs for mitigation projects.
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FEMA’s mission: Helping people before, during, and after disasters.