Following a review of relevant legislation, regulations and policy, FEMA has revised the Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Program’s guidance concerning the types of physical flood risk reduction projects it will consider funding. FEMA’s HMA Programs include Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program (PDM) and the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program. The programs aim to support mitigation against flooding and other natural disasters.
Prior to review, the 2013 HMA Unified Guidance stated that only “minor localized flood reduction projects” were eligible for funding. This definition did not include “major flood control projects” related to the construction, demolition, or repair of dams, dikes, levees, floodwalls, seawalls, groins, jetties, breakwaters and erosion projects related to beach nourishment or re-nourishment.
Publishing new policy on June 18, 2014, “Eligibility of Flood Risk Reduction Measures under the Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Programs,” FEMA has revised the guidance allowing for the construction, demolition, or mitigation of dams, dikes, levees, floodwalls, seawalls, groins, jetties, breakwaters and erosion projects related to beach nourishment or re-nourishment under the HMGP and PDM programs.
How does the expansion of eligible projects under HMA impact your local flood mitigation efforts?
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