Fiscal Year Change Streamlines Application Process for Certain Mitigation Projects
WASHINGTON -- FEMA announced two hazard mitigation funding notices today for more than $1 billion, along with streamlined application guidance.
The application period is open for FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance Fiscal Year 2021 grant programs.
The agency announced the Notices of Funding Opportunity for these two grant programs in early August to combat climate change and protect underserved communities against disaster hazards. In its second year, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., increased funding to $1 billion for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant and $160 million is available for Flood Mitigation Assistance.
The application period closes on Jan. 28, 2022.
FEMA also released guidance for states, local communities, tribal and territorial governments to streamline the application process for hospital generators, acquisitions and elevation projects.
FEMA understands that the effort necessary to demonstrate cost-effectiveness for projects can increase the burden on subapplicants, particularly those with limited access to resources.
Streamlining the application process shows FEMA’s commitment to deliver its hazard mitigation programs with equity and supports building capacity and capability in underserved and at-risk communities.
Summary of the Guidance
The guidance establishes pre-calculated benefit values to reduce the time and resources needed to complete and review cost-effectiveness for hospital generators, acquisitions, and elevation projects. In addition, it aims to increase the availability of mitigation opportunities to help communities increase resilience against future disasters.
Hospital Generators
The memorandum “Pre-Calculated Benefits for Certain Hospital Generators to Demonstrate Cost-Effectiveness” applies to Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant program application periods that are open today, and applies only to generator projects in hospitals with emergency departments.
Acquisitions and Elevations
The memorandum, “Cost-Effectiveness Determinations for Acquisitions and Elevations in Special Flood Hazard Areas Using Pre-Calculated Benefits,” is effective today and applies to applications regardless of when the application period opened. The updated pre-calculated benefit values that can be used to determine cost effectiveness of elevations and acquisitions in Special Flood Hazard Areas are:
- Acquisitions: $323,000 per structure.
- Elevations (and mitigation reconstruction): $205,000 per structure.
FEMA allows the pre-calculated benefit values to be applied to new applications for these five Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs: Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities, Flood Mitigation Assistance, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, HMGP Post Fire and Pre-Disaster Mitigation.