Hazard mitigation is the cornerstone of emergency management. Mitigation is the ongoing effort to lessen the impact disasters have on people’s lives and property through damage prevention and flood insurance.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency’s Office of Mitigation is responsible for coordinating disaster loss reduction programs, initiatives and policies throughout the state. Disaster loss reduction measures are carried out through the development of state and local hazard mitigation plans and the implementation of those plans.
The mitigation office administers hazard mitigation grant programs to state and local governments, qualifying nonprofits and tribal organizations. Grant programs include the post-disaster Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program, the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program and the Severe Repetitive Loss Grant Program, which funds the mitigation of high loss insured properties through the National Flood Insurance Program.
State and local mitigation strategies that qualify for funding are:
Hazard mitigation planning
Retrofit of critical facilities
Acquisition, elevation, relocation or drainage improvements of repetitive flood loss structures
Construction or upgrade of general population shelters
Enhancement of development codes and standards
Safe rooms and storm shelters
Generators for critical facilities
Warning systems
To qualify for mitigation grants, state and local governments are required to develop and implement hazard mitigation plans. The State Hazard Mitigation Plan, developed by hazard-specific mitigation teams with direction from the Mitigation Office, identifies the major natural hazards that affect our state, assesses the risk that each hazard poses, projects the vulnerability of our people, property and infrastructure to the specific hazard and recommends actions that can be taken to reduce the risk and vulnerability to the hazard. The State Hazard Mitigation Plan also contains a description of programs, policies, statutes and regulations applicable to hazard mitigation.
The Mitigation Office Director is Jana Henderson. She can be reached at (601) 933-6636. Additional information on mitigation programs and policies may also be obtained from the FEMA Web site at www.fema.gov.
DID YOU KNOW
A local government entity (City Council, Board of Aldermen or Board of Supervisors) can apply for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to build a community safe room.
Mitigate: /midəgāt/ verb: make less severe, serious or painful; lessen the gravity of
- Send a "Notice of Intent" to mitigationgrants@mema.ms.gov
- A MEMA Mitigation Specialist will contact you.
- An HMPG Grant application must be completed by the local government to be considered for funding.
- MEMA submits your project to FEMA for review and approval.
- If approved, MEMA receives FEMA Mitigation funds to reimburse local governments for approved projects.
Individuals, property and business owners may not apply directly for HMPG Projects, but eligible local government or private nonprofit organizations may apply on their behalf. HMGP funds may be used to pay up to 75% of the eligible costs.
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
What is the purpose of the HMGP?
The HMGP assists States, territories, federally recognized tribes, and local communities by:
- Significantly reducing, or permanently eliminating future risk to lives and property from natural hazards
- Providing funds to implement projects in accordance with priorities identified in State, tribal, or local hazard mitigation plans
- Enabling mitigation measures to be implemented during the recovery following a major disaster declaration
How is HMGP funding determined following a major disaster?
Federal funding under the HMGP is available if requested by the Governor. HMGP funding is allocated using a "sliding scale" formula based on the percentage of funds spent on Public and Individual Assistance for each Presidentially declared disaster.
Federal law requires States, territories, federally- recognized tribes and local jurisdictions to have a mitigation plan prior to receipt of HMGP funds. The plan identifies hazards, assesses community needs, and describes a community-wide strategy for reducing risks associated with natural disasters.
For States/territories/federally recognized tribes with a FEMA-approved Standard State or Tribal Mitigation Plan, the formula provides for up to 15% of the first $2 billion of estimated aggregate amounts of disaster assistance, up to 10% for amounts between $2 billion and $10 billion, and 7.5% for amounts between $10 billion and $35.333 billion.
For States/territories with a FEMA-approved Enhanced Mitigation Plan, up to 20% of the total of Public and Individual Assistance funds authorized for the disaster (up to $35.333 billion of such assistance) are available.
What types of projects can be funded?
The HMGP can be used to fund projects to protect either public or private property, as long as the project fits within State/territorial/federally-recognized tribal, and local government mitigation strategies to address areas of risk and complies with HMGP guidelines.
bullets with asterisks will have additional information provided below.
- Eligible Activities
- Mitigation Projects
- Property Acquisition and Structure Demolition
- Property Acquisition and Structure Relocation
- Structure Elevation
- Mitigation Reconstruction
- Dry Floodproofing of Historic Residential Structures
- Dry Floodproofing of Non-Residential Structures
- Generators
- Localized Flood Risk Reduction Projects
- Non-Localized Flood Risk Reduction Projects
- Structural Retrofitting of Existing Buildings
- Non-Structural Retrofitting of Existing Buildings and Facilities
- Safe Room Construction
- Wind Retrofit for One- and Two-Family Residences
- Infrastructure Retrofit
- Soil Stabilization
- Wildfire Mitigation Post-Disaster Code Enforcement
- Advance Assistance
- 5 Percent Initiative Projects*
- Miscellaneous/Other**
- Hazard Mitigation Planning
- Planning-Related Activities
- Management Costs
* FEMA allows increasing the 5% Initiative amount up to 10% for a Presidential major disaster declaration under HMGP. The additional 5% Initiative funding can be used for activities that promote disaster resistant codes for all hazards. As a condition of the award, either a disaster-resistant building code must be adopted or an improved Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule is required.
** Miscellaneous/Other indicates that any proposed action will be evaluated on its own merit against program requirements. Eligible projects will be approved provided funding is available.
How much will FEMA pay for a project under the HMGP?
Typically projects are funded by a combination of Federal and non-Federal funds. HMGP funds may be used to pay up to 75% of the eligible costs. The non-Federal match does not need to be cash; in-kind services or materials may be used.
What are the roles of local communities, federally-recognized tribes, territories, States, and FEMA?
During the recovery phase of a disaster, local jurisdictions select projects that could reduce property damage from future disasters, and submit applications to the State, territory, or federally recognized tribe. Certain nonprofit organizations may also apply.
The States, territories, and federally-recognized tribes administer the HMGP by establishing their mitigation priorities, facilitating the development of applications, and submitting applications to FEMA based on funding criteria and available funding. They also manage the projects, monitor progress, and evaluate the effectiveness of projects implemented.
FEMA conducts a final eligibility review to ensure compliance with Federal regulations. HMGP projects must comply with Federal environmental laws and regulations, be cost-effective, and be technically feasible.
What are the roles of property and business owners?
Individuals, property and business owners may not apply directly to the State, territory, or FEMA, but eligible local governments or private nonprofit organizations may apply on their behalf.
FEMA encourages property and business owners interested in implementing mitigation activities to contact their local community planning, emergency management, or hazard mitigation office for more information.
MEMA4Kids: This campaign is built around Delta the Disaster Dog, Pearl the Preparedness Pup, and Jake the Mitigation Wizard. Delta and Pearl embark on a journey across Mississippi to learn about all the hazards we face and how to prepare for them. At the end of each trip, Jake offers advice on mitigation, which is techniques to reduce the impact of a particular disaster, on people and property. For more information contact Jana Henderson at jhenderson@mema.ms.gov or 601-933-6884.