Develop a Rebuilding Plan: Knowing your program and funding options is vital

DISASTERRECOVERY TODAY .COM D I S A S T E R R E C O V E R Y T O D A Y 1 FEMA 321 Policy Digest important to work with your local mitigation authority (normally a commission or counsel in charge of the local mitigation strategy) to ensure projects that will reduce or minimize damages from future disasters. According to the FEMA 321 Policy Digest, “ Hazard Mitigation is any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from natural hazards and their effects.” Section 404 of the Stafford Act outlines the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), which is “available after disasters, but is not under the jurisdiction of the Public Assistance Program.” Section 404 grant funds give states the opportunity to pursue mitigation measures that may have been pending due to lack of means. The grant program was created to ensure that “the opportunity [for eligible applicants] to take critical mitigation measures to protect life and property from future disasters [would not be] lost during the recovery and reconstruction process following a disaster.” Eligible projects should fit within the state’s hazard mitigation plan and include “acquisition of hazard-prone property, retrofitting existing buildings and facilities, elevation of flood-prone structures, and infrastructure protection measures.” 1 Applicants are advised to work with their county’s mitigation officer or person in charge of the Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS). The LMS is a pre-approved list of projects for the community and is ranked by the local mitigation committee. Since the 404 application process is somewhat onerous and the deadline for completion often falls during the first year of recovery, it is recommended that counties and applicants get a head start on this process by preparing complete packages (project narrative, scope of work, timeline, cost-benefit analysis, etc.) for at least their first ten LMS projects well before any disaster occurs. This is especially important because this is a competitive process open to every eligible applicant in the disaster area. As you can see, during this stage of the process, an applicant has numerous opportunities — as well as decisions to make. Without close coordination with the state “Hazard Mitigation is any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from natural hazards and their effects.”