Hazard mitigation planning, as the emergency management community knows, is a fundamental part of FEMA’s “Preparedness Cycle.” It’s the process used by state, tribal, and local leaders to understand risks from natural hazards and develop long-term strategies that will reduce the impacts of future events on people, property, and the environment. And, it’s worth a fortune to those who take it to heart. Literally.
In 2020 alone, FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Division approved 1,884 HMA grants, totaling more than $884 million in funding. Add Public Assistance Mitigation funding to this number and the approved total is a whopping $1.31 billion. And, there’s still more to be had as HMA grant applications for 2020 will be accepted through the agency’s online portal, FEMA GO, through 3 PM EST on January 29, 2021.
Funding is available through two HMA programs: the Fiscal Year 2020 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program and the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program.
As a reminder, the National Institute of Building Sciences, now estimates that every dollar invested in mitigation saves six dollars in prevented damages (up from four dollars in previous years).
BOLDplanning has completed more than 50 Hazard Mitigation Plans across the country, including multiple FEMA approvals on the first submission. Many clients find it valuable to have their COOP, EOP and HMP plans connected through our online BOLDplanning Platform. Contact us to learn more about BOLDplanning’s successful approach to Hazard Mitigation Planning.
