General Questions
What is mitigation?
Hazard mitigation is any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from natural and man-made hazards and their effects.
If I sign a voluntary interest form, does that mean that I have to sell my home?
No. All of FEMA’s mitigation grant programs are voluntary. Neither FEMA, nor the State, nor your local community will use eminent domain to acquire your home."
If I rent my home and the owner participates in a grant program and sells the house to the community, what happens?
Tenants who must relocate as a result of acquisition of their housing are entitled to Uniform Relocation Act (URA) relocation benefits regardless of the owner’s voluntary participation. This includes replacement housing rental increase and utility increase payments. Also, a community has the option of providing moving expenses and non-URA relocation assistance.
What is duplication of benefits?
Grant funds cannot duplicate or be duplicated by funds received by or available to Applicants, subapplicants, or project participants from other sources for the same purpose, such as benefits received from insurance claims, other assistance programs (including HMA programs), legal awards, or other benefits associated with properties or damage that are or could be subject of litigation. FEMA will treat benefits that are reasonably available as a duplication of benefits (DOB), even if the benefits were not sought or received.
What is HAZUS-MH?
HAZUS-MH stands for Hazards U.S. Multi-Hazard. HAZUS-MH is a loss estimation and risk assessment software for analyzing potential losses from floods, hurricane winds and earthquakes. In HAZUS-MH, current scientific and engineering knowledge is coupled with the latest geographic information systems (GIS) technology to produce estimates of hazard-related damage before, or after, a disaster occurs. For more information on HAZUS-MH or to obtain the software, visit FEMA’s website at https://www.fema.gov/hazus
Grant Programs
What mitigation grants are available from FEMA?
FEMA has three mitigation grant programs. The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) is the only disaster related grant and is only available following a major disaster declaration by the President. The remaining two grant programs; Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) are available annually and are competitive at the national level.
Are there any other mitigation grants available?
There are a number of Federal, State, and Local agencies and organizations that either have mitigation grants or who contribute to the non-federal share of the grant. Some of the more common ones are:
- Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) through the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD)
- Clean Ohio Fund through the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC)
- Local Park Districts
- Local watershed districts
- Local fraternal organizations
- Local businesses
Applying For A Grant
Who may apply for a grant?
States, Territories, and Local governments are eligible HMA Applicants. Eligible subapplicants must apply to the Applicant.
Where can I get a copy of the grant guidance?
The current Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant guidance can be downloaded here or by visiting FEMA’s website at http://www.fema.gov. For copies of previous grant year guidance, please visit FEMA’s website.
What types of projects can be funded through FEMA
When is the deadline to apply for a grant?
The HMGP application deadline is 12 months after the date of the disaster declaration date and is not part of the annual application period. The PDM and FMA application period opens annually.
What are the requirements to be considered a small and impoverished community?
Grants awarded to small impoverished communities may receive a Federal cost share of up to 90 percent of the total amount approved under the grant award to implement eligible approved activities in accordance with the Stafford Act. A small impoverished community must:
- Be a community of 3,000 or fewer individuals identified by the State as a rural community that is not a remote area within the corporate boundaries of a larger city;
- Be economically disadvantaged, with residents having an average per capita annual income not exceeding 80 percent of the national per capita income, based on best available data. For the most current information, go to http://www.bea.gov;
- Have a local unemployment rate that exceeds by 1 percentage point or more the most recently reported, average yearly national unemployment rate. For the most current information, go to http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.us.htm; and
- Meet other criteria required by the State/Tribe/Territory in which the community is located.
Applicants must certify and provide documentation of the community status with the appropriate subapplication to justify the 90 percent cost share. If documentation is not submitted with the subapplication, FEMA will provide no more than the standard 75 percent of the total eligible costs.
What are pre-awards costs?
Pre-Award Costs are those costs incurred after the HMA application period has opened, but prior to the date of the grant award, are identified as pre-award costs. Costs directly related to developing the application or subapplication may be funded through HMA as funds are available. Such costs may have been incurred, for example, to develop a BCA, to gather EHP data, for preparing design specifications, or for workshops or meetings related to development and submission of HMA applications and subapplications. To be eligible for HMA funding, pre-award costs must be identified as separate line items in the cost estimate of the subapplication. Applicants and subapplicants may identify such pre-award costs as their non-Federal cost share. Applicants and subapplicants who are not awarded grants funds will not receive reimbursement for pre-award costs.
Benefit-Cost Analysis
What is benefit-cost analysis?
Benefit-cost analysis is a standardized systematic approach that determines whether the cost of investing in a mitigation project today (the “cost”) will result in sufficiently reduced damages in the future (the “benefits”) to justify spending money on the project. If the benefit is greater than the cost, then the project is cost-effective; if the benefit is less than the cost, then the project is not cost-effective.
Where can the benefit-cost analysis software be obtained?
FEMA’s benefit-cost analysis software can be downloaded from the BCA Helpline website at http://www.fema.gov/benefit-cost-analysis.
Where can I get training on benefit-cost analysis?
Benefit-cost analysis training can be obtained by visiting the BC Helpline or attending the Emergency Management Institute (EMI).
Additionally, the Mitigation Branch attempts to host or hold one training session a year. Information on the training and the date of the training will be posted on the web portal.
Where can I get help with a benefit-cost analysis?"
For assistance with running a benefit-cost analysis you can:
What is a benefit?
Benefits are the elimination and/or reduction of future damages and losses. Examples of types of benefits are:
| Avoided Physical Damages |
- Buildings
- Contents
- Infrastructure
- Site Contamination
- Vehicles
- Equipment
|
| Avoided Loss-of-Function Costs |
- Displacement costs for temporary quarters
- Loss of rental income
- Loss of business income
- Lost wages
- Disruption time for residents
- Loss of public services
- Economic impact of loss of utility services
- Economic impact of road/bridge closures
|
| Avoided Casualties |
- Deaths
- Injuries
- Illnesses
|
| Avoided Emergency Management Costs |
- Emergency operations center costs
- Evacuation or rescue costs
- Security costs
- Temporary protective measure costs
- Debris removal and cleanup costs
|
Where do I get the information to conduct a benefit-cost analysis?
The data to conduct a benefit-cost analysis can come from a variety of credible sources that include, but are not limited to: tax records, appraisals, surveys, Marshall & Swift Residential Cost Handbook, the R.S. Means Square Foot Residential Costs, building-cost.net, local building officials, architects, contractors, Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) maps, Flood Insurance Studies (FIS), local officials, newspaper articles citing credible sources, Federal and State agencies, Engineers, Utility companies, technical and engineering studies, and Insurance claims.
How is the First Floor Elevation of a structure determined
The first floor elevation can be obtained by:
- A registered surveyor licensed in the State of Ohio. The results of the survey must include the surveyor’s signature and embossed seal.
- An elevation certificate. The National Flood Insurance Program requires communities to obtain lowest floor elevation information for newly constructed and substantially improved buildings in the Special Flood Hazard Area.
How do I find the total size of a building?
The total size of the building can be found on tax records, appraisals, and surveys. The total size consists of the enclosed area within the building, including finished and unfinished basements, and the entire living space. The total size of the building does NOT include porches, garages, car ports, patios, outbuildings, or other outside areas.
How is the Building Replacement Value (BRV) determined?
The BRV is the cost to build or repair a building, including the costs of both materials and labor. Several standard sources provide this information, including the Marshall & Swift Residential Cost Handbook, the R.S. Means Square Foot Residential Costs, building-cost.net, local building officials, architects, contractors, and others.
Where can I obtain a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) map?
You can obtain a copy of your FIRM map by contacting your local floodplain manager or by visiting FEMA’s Map Service Center
To find your local floodplain manager, visit The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Floodplain Management program’s website.
Where can I obtain a Flood Insurance Study (FIS)
You can obtain a copy of your FIS map by contacting your local floodplain manager or by visiting FEMA’s Map Service Center
To find your local floodplain manager, visit The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Floodplain Management program’s website or click here for a PDF listing of floodplain managers.
Mitigation Planning
Is it required to have a mitigation plan?
44CFR201.6 requires local community to have a FEMA approved local hazard mitigation plan in order to be eligible to apply for and receive mitigation grant funds.
44CFR201.4 states that the State of Ohio must have a FEMA approved "standard" or "enhanced" mitigation plan to be eligible to receive non-emergency Stafford Act assistance and FEMA mitigation grants. Emergency assistance provided under 42 U.S.C. 5170a, 5170b, 5173, 5174, 5177, 5179, 5180, 5182, 5183, 5184, 5192 will not be affected.
What are the requirements for a mitigation plan?
44CFR201.6 outlines the requirements for a local hazard mitigation plan (LHMP)
The requirements for state hazard mitigation plans (SHMP) are outlined in 44CFR201.4 for a "Standard" plan and 44CFR201.5 for an "Enhanced" plan.
What is a "Standard" and an "Enhanced" plan?
Any State with a "standard" mitigation plan receives fifteen percent (15%) of the total eligible costs of a presidential declared disaster for distribution to communities through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). Any State with an "enhanced" mitigation plan will receive twenty percent (20%) of the total eligible costs.
Does the State of Ohio have a "Standard" or an "Enhanced" plan?
The current Ohio State Hazard Mitigation Plan (SHMP) was approved by FEMA on May 12, 2014 as meeting the "enhanced" state mitigation plan requirements. The requirements for state hazard mitigation plans (SHMP) are outlined in 44CFR201.4 for a "Standard" plan and 44CFR201.5 for an "Enhanced" plan.
Does a mitigation plan expire?
Hazard mitigation plans expire 5-years after the date of being approved by FEMA.
However, the plan may be updated and submitted to FEMA for approval any time.
Mitigation Projects
What types of projects can be funded through FEMA?
What is a cost over-run and under-run?
A cost overrun is an unanticipated increase in the cost of performing the specified objectives of an activity. Guidance on cost overruns can be found in 44 CFR 206.438(b).
A cost under run is an unanticipated decrease in the cost of performing the specified objectives of an activity. Cost under runs cannot be applied to new activities (those not previously approved in the project’s scope of work) if the 24 month obligation period has expired.
What is program income?
Program income is gross income directly generated by a grant-supported activity or earned only as a result of the grant during the grant period of performance. Program income may be derived from use or rental of real or personal property acquired with grant funds, and sale of commodities or items fabricated under the grant award.
What is FEMA’s open space deed restriction?
44CFR80.19 - Land use and oversight.
This section applies to acquisitions for open space projects to address flood hazards. If the Administrator determines to mitigate in other circumstances, he/she will adapt the provisions of this section as appropriate.
- (a) Open space requirements. The property shall be dedicated and maintained in perpetuity as open space for the conservation of natural floodplain functions.
-
- (1) These uses may include: Parks for outdoor recreational activities; wetlands management; nature reserves; cultivation; grazing; camping (except where adequate warning time is not available to allow evacuation); unimproved, unpaved parking lots; buffer zones; and other uses FEMA determines compatible with this part.
-
- (i) Allowable uses generally do not include: Walled buildings, levees, dikes, or floodwalls, paved roads, highways, bridges, cemeteries, landfills, storage of any hazardous or toxic materials, above or below ground pumping and switching stations, above or below ground storage tanks, paved parking, off-site fill or other uses that obstruct the natural and beneficial functions of the floodplain.
- (ii) In the rare circumstances where the Administrator has determined competing Federal interests were unavoidable and has analyzed floodplain impacts for compliance with §60.3 of this subchapter or higher standards, the Administrator may find only USACE projects recognized by FEMA in 2000 and improvements to pre-existing Federal-aid transportation systems to be allowable uses.
- (2) No new structures or improvements will be built on the property except as indicated below:
-
- (i) A public facility that is open on all sides and functionally related to a designated open space or recreational use;
- (ii) A public restroom;
- (iii) A structure that is compatible with open space and conserves the natural function of the floodplain, which the Administrator approves in writing before the construction of the structure begins.
- (3) Any improvements on the property shall be in accordance with proper floodplain management policies and practices. Structures built on the property according to paragraph (a)(2) of this section shall be floodproofed or elevated to at least the base flood level plus 1 foot of freeboard, or greater, if required by FEMA, or if required by any State or local ordinance, and in accordance with criteria established by the Administrator.
- (4) After the date of property settlement, no Federal entity or source may provide disaster assistance for any purpose with respect to the property, nor may any application for such assistance be made to any Federal entity or source.
What is the period of performance for the project?
The POP begins on the date that the grant is awarded and ends no later than 3 years from the award of the final subgrant under the grant.
What is a repetitive-loss property?
Residential or non-residential (commercial) properties that have received one or more NFIP insurance payments are considered a repetitive loss property. Repetitive Loss properties included in a subapplication must be NFIP-insured at the time of the application submittal. Flood insurance must be maintained at least through completion of the mitigation activity.
What are ICC funds?
An additional coverage, required as part of all flood insurance policies through the NFIP that provides up to $30,000 for structures to come into compliance with local floodplain management regulations. ICC can be utilized in FEMA mitigation projects when applicable and is considered a non-federal matching fund source.
How do I determine a Priority List for my project?
- Criteria for establishing the priority of properties in a project can be varied and should be selected by the project development committee. Since there will only be so much funding available for the project, a priority list must be established so project funds will be spent in a fair and equitable manner. This is necessary when a project involves mitigation actions to private properties and buildings. It is strongly recommended that alternate properties be included in the scope of the project. As a project is implemented, the local project manager uses the priority list to begin mitigation actions and proceeds down the list until funds run out.
- After a devastating flood in 1998, the Village of Corning in Perry County developed an HMGP project application for acquiring/demolishing, elevating, and retrofitting several homes. The criteria selected by the project development committee to prioritize the properties included repetitive flooding, depth of flooding, substantial damage, elderly living in the home, handicapped living in the home. Points were assigned for each of the criteria.
- Be sure that you would be able to defend your priority list in a court of law.
Web Portal
What is the mitigation web portal?
The web portal is an information repository for mitigation plans and mitigation projects administered by the Ohio EMA Mitigation Branch. This will enable the Mitigation Branch to allow the State to easily integrate local hazard mitigation plan information into the State Hazard Mitigation Plan, generate an historical record of mitigation projects, quickly search the information to more efficiently answer inquiries, and generate reports based on the data entered. Information entered from mitigation projects will also assist the State to monitor and report to FEMA on the status of properties acquired using HMA funds.
When will the web portal be completed
The web portal is an on-going repository of information. It was designed to permit a constant update of information and allow new mitigated properties to be added.
Who funded the web portal?
The web portal was funded through FEMA's Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) grant program from federal fiscal year 2007. The 25% of the non-federal share was provided by the State of Ohio.
Does the web portal comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act?
The web portal is complaint with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It was designed in accordance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29USC794d, 1998) and Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Other
How do I determine the latitude/longitude?
Please see the Geocoding Your Mitigation Project PDF document.
How do I photograph the structures in my project?
Please see Photographing Your Project PDF document.