Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

1
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
Applicants Briefing FEMA DR-1603-LA Funding
Allocation Guidance Briefing Conducted June 13,
2008
2
Applicant Briefing for Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program

• To prepare local officials and potential
  applicants for application for the Hazard
  Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).

3
Hazard Mitigation

• . . . Any sustained action taken to reduce or
  eliminate long-term risk to people and property
  from natural hazards and their effects.

4
Goals of the HMGP

• Support the State / Local Hazard Mitigation Plans
  by funding Hazard Mitigation measures that are in
  line with the respective plans.
• Assist local governments in using safer building
  practices and improving existing structures and
  supporting infrastructure.

5
TIMELINE FOR APPLICANTS

• Pre Application/Letter of Interest......June
  13, 2008
• Complete Application to State....July 31,
  2008
• Applications to FEMA.August 31, 2008

6
Events Leading to New Allocation

• In March 2008, GOHSEP and OCD determined that OCD
  only needed 750 million in HMGP funds to
  accomplish their goals.
• In May 2008, the LRA Director and the State
  Hazard Mitigation Team discussed possible courses
  of action.
• This Guidance is pending until the LRA board
  approves.
• The current LRA guidance is on the following
  slides

7
Allocations

• 100 Million to State Agencies Projects
• 74 Million to Statewide Competitive
• 64 Million to Parishes (1 Million each Parish)
• 22 Million to eleven (11) most impacted Parishes
  (Additional 2 Million per Parish)

8
5 Set Aside

• FEMA allows 5 of HMGP funds to be set aside to
  fund projects that are normally ineligible.
  Examples
• Generators
• Warning Systems
• Communication Equipment
• Details on funding generators and other 5 set
  aside projects will be provided in the near
  future.
• GOHSEP is also asking FEMA for a larger
  allocation of set aside funds if granted details
  will be provided later.

9
Unused Allocations as of July 31, 2008

• If total State agency projects equals less than
  100 million allocation, remaining funds will be
  reallocated in increments of 2 million to next
  most impacted Parishes.
• Remaining unused State agency allocations amounts
  that total less than 2 million will be added to
  the statewide competitive project allocation.
• Any unused Parish allocations will be returned to
  the statewide competitive pot.

10
Most Impacted Parishes by highest number of
residences with major and severe damage as
determined by FEMAs IA Program

• Orleans
• Jefferson
• St. Bernard
• St. Tammany
• Calcasieu
• Plaquemines

• Vermilion
• Terrebonne
• Cameron
• Washington
• Iberia

11
Next most impacted Parishes

• Tangipahoa
• Lafourche
• Beauregard
• Jefferson Davis
• Acadia
• St. Charles
• Livingston
• St. Mary
• St. John
• Vernon
• Allen
• E. Baton Rouge
• Assumption
• Ascension

• Lafayette
• St. Martin
• St. James
• St. Landry
• St. Helena
• Iberville
• Sabine
• Evangeline
• E. Feliciana
• Point Coupee
• W. Baton Rouge
• West Feliciana
• Rapides

12
Competitive Funding

• Distribution of funds under the competitive pot
• 29.6 million for acquisitions, elevations and
  reconstructions (40)
• 29.6 million for drainage projects (40)
• 14.8 million for other projects such as critical
  facilities/infrastructure retrofit, saferooms,
  (20)
• Any funds reallocated will follow the same
  40/40/20 formula.

13
Competitive Funding Scoring

• Projects will be scored according to the
  following
• Benefit Cost
• Number of structures protected
• Number of repetitive loss structures protected
• Number of severe repetitive loss structures
  protected
• Whether or not project scoped under the Pilot
  Planning
• Projects will be ranked within their category
  acquisition, elevation and reconstruction
  drainage and other.

14
Letter of Interest

• All interested and eligible applicants should
  submit an LOI by COB today, per LRA direction.
• If an LOI is not received by 500 pm, June 27,
  2008, unspoken for allocations will be moved to
  the statewide competitive pot.
• LOI should include
• Statement of interest to participate
• List of prospective projects with short
  description and estimated cost for each project
• Blank LOIs are available see GOHSEP
  representative.

15
Who is Eligible?

• GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
• State Agencies
• Parishes/Communities
• Special/Regional Districts

• TRIBAL NATIONS

• PRIVATE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
• Section 501 (c), (d), (e) of the Internal
  Revenue Service Code. Examples Medical,
  Residential Health Care Facilities, Educational,
  Emergency Utility
• If you have been considered eligible for
  PA, you are most likely an eligible HMGP applicant

16
Planning Requirement
Section 322 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act
or the Act), 42 U.S.C. 5165, enacted under Sec.
104 the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, (DMA
2000) establishes a new requirement for local
mitigation plans to be approved by FEMA in order
to be eligible for Hazard Mitigation Grant Funds.
17
HMGP Financing

• HMGP is a cost-reimbursement grant program.
• The recipient (Subgrantee) of the funds should
  initially make arrangements to fund the entire
  project (up-front money), unless circumstances
  provide for the limited advance of funds.

18

• Project Cost-Share
• The Applicant does not need to provide the normal
  25 match limited exceptions apply.
• Costs will be paid in full through Global Match.

19
Key FEMA Responsibilities

• Oversee the State management of the HMGP
• Assist the State in setting priorities for the
  use of HMGP funds
• Approve or deny applications for funding that are
  submitted from the applicant thru the Grantee
  (State)
• Monitor program activities

20
Key State Responsibilities

• Manage the HMGP Program
• Solicit program interest and help potential
  applicants to complete applications
• Prepare and submit applications to FEMA
• Notify applicants of FEMA decisions
• Monitor program activities
• Conduct periodic/compliance reviews

21
Key Regulatory/Guidance Resources

• The Stafford Act
• The Code of Federal Regulations,44 Part 206,
  Subpart N
• The HMGP Desk Reference

22
The Applicants Role

• Develop, adopt and update local mitigation
  strategy.
• Submit HMGP projects to State.
• Implement the project and maintain all project
  documentation.
• Ensure all project costs are reasonable and in
  compliance with all applicable federal, state and
  local requirements.

23
Application Development Assistance

• Our staff will contact each jurisdiction to
  determine what type level of assistance you
  need.
• FEMA has committed to providing assistance as
  well.
• Our resources are limited it will be on a first
  come, first serve basis.
• Application Development is an eligible
  Administrative cost under Hazard Mitigation,
  either use you staff, hire a staff, or hire a
  contractor to assist you.
• Use appropriate RFP process (that includes their
  services will be used for application
  development)
• A Grant must be approved to receive any funding
• ADMIN dollars are limited
• A pre-award request must be submitted in writing

24
Application Development Workshops

• From 25 June 18 July, GOHSEP FEMA are
  offering Application Development Workshops
• The following locations are currently being
  considered
• Monroe
• Shreveport
• Alexandria
• Lake Charles
• Lafayette
• Baton Rouge
• Covington
• New Orleans
• Houma
• We are soliciting dates and training locations
  from interested OHSEP Directors (the GOHSEP
  Regional Coordinators are working this)

25
Eligible Projects Must . . .

• Be located in a Parish that has adopted the ABFE
• Meet the requirements of 44 CFR 206.434(b)
  Local Plan Requirements created by DMA 2000
  require applicants to either have a FEMA-approved
  plan or be part of one.
• See 44 CFR 206.434(c) for minimum project criteria

26
Eligible Project Types Include

• Acquisition, Elevation, or Pilot Reconstruction
• Retrofitting (seismic, wind and flood)
• Vegetative management and soil stabilization
• Infrastructure protection

• Stormwater Management
• Minor structural flood control
• Hardening utilities
• Writing/updating Parish and other local Hazard
  Mitigation Plans

27
Acquisition, Elevation, Pilot Reconstruction

• Thousands of structures have or are in the
  process of being acquired, elevated or
  reconstructed with funds from the Road Home, the
  Traditional HMGP, and other Federal programs such
  as Pre Disaster Mitigation, Flood Mitigation
  Assistance, Severe Repetitive Loss, and
  Repetitive Flood Claims Programs
• All of these programs target mitigating
  repetitive NFIP losses
• Work In Progress
• Pilot Reconstruction
• Planning Pilot Grant Program

28
Acquisition

• Acquisition of land and structure demolition
  costs
• Acquisition of land only cost to physically
  relocatestructures
• Additional relocationcosts

29
Elevation

• Construction costs and relocations costs are
  eligible
• Must comply with ABFE
• Repair costs are not eligible

30
Pilot Reconstruction

• Demolish structure replace with new structure
  that complies with ABFE, and all local/state
  building codes.
• The structure must be rebuilt on the existing lot
  and the size of the structure cannot exceed more
  than 10 percent the size of the previous
  structure.
• Federal costs cannot exceed 150,000 for
  construction costs
• The owner of the structure is responsible for
  excess costs
• The LRA will contribute up to 50,000 for
  construction costs that exceed 150,000

31
Retrofitting Public Facilities

• Public facilities and buildings can be
  strengthened against high winds and rising
  waters through the use
• of various mitigation measures.

32
Drainage Projects

• Drainage projects minimize flood losses for many
  structures.
• Flap gates/flood gates
• Berms/floodwalls
• Culverts/bridges
• Channelization
• Diversion

33
HMGP Expanded Mitigation StrategiesPilot
Planning Grant

• Provides funds to identify, prioritize and
  conduct pre-construction planning for mitigation
  projects to be incorporated into Local Mitigation
  Plans
• 150,000 available in funding
• Projects carry a 12-month period of performance
• Project types
• Amendments to current Plans mitigation strategy
  and project scoping
• Plan update and project scoping

34
Parish Mitigation Plan Updates

• Parishes can use this allocation to update plans
• State will allow up to 65,000 for plan updates
• If parish is currently doing an amendment under
  the PPGP the State will not submit an application
  for an update until the amendment is completed
• Parishes should include intent to update plan in
  LOI

35
Work in Progress-Limited exception for
retroactive approval under the HMGP

• The purpose of the exception (Disaster Specific
  Guidance) is to allow state and local governments
  to include
• applications for certain eligible mitigation
  actions initiated after the date of declaration,
  but prior to March 16, 2008.
• Under the exception, FEMA may consider
  retroactive approval for certain mitigation
  activities. The activities must
• Meet all applicable HMGP requirements
• Eligible projects under exception include
  residential and non-residential structures, and
  public and non-profit structures and facilities
• Eligible activities include Structural
  elevation, mitigation reconstruction,
  construction of saferooms, retrofitting structure
  for hazard protection, demolition of damaged
  structures for open space or mitigation
  reconstruction.
• Ineligible activities include New flood protect
  measures, vegetation management and soil
  stabilization, new stormwater management systems,
  new coastal property protection measures and
  purchase of generators.
• Certain public facilities have an exception date
  of January 16, 2008.

36
Websites

• www.fema.gov
• www.ohsep.louisiana.gov

37
Payments and Reimbursement Procedures

• In general
• All project funds disbursements will be processed
  on a REIMBURSEMENT BASIS.
• Advance of Federal funds will only be approved by
  exception and where allowed by Federal
  Regulations. A participant must demonstrate that
  an advance for a project is necessary in order to
  accomplish the work.
• Attached is a copy of GOHSEPs Interim Payment
  Procedures.

38
Key Dates

• June 13 LOI suspense
• June 27 Allocations returned to statewide
  competitive pot for LOIs not received
• July 31 Application submission to State
• August 31 State application submission to FEMA

39
Conclusion