On Sept. 30, the application period opened for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities and Flood Mitigation Assistance grant programs. States, local communities, tribes and territories can submit applications to combat climate change and protect underserved communities against disaster hazards.
Available Funding and Application Deadline
In early August, FEMA published the Notices of Funding Opportunity for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities and Flood Mitigation Assistance hazard mitigation grants. FEMA announced more than $1 billion is available for these two hazard mitigation grant programs and released streamlined application guidance. For fiscal year 2021, $1 billion is available for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant and $160 million is available for Flood Mitigation Assistance. The application period closes on Jan. 28, 2022.
FEMA Streamlines Application Process for Certain Mitigation Projects
FEMA also released guidance for states, local communities, tribal and territorial governments to streamline the application process for hospital generators, acquisitions and elevations projects.
The agency understands that the effort necessary to demonstrate cost-effectiveness for projects can increase the burden on subapplicants, particularly those with limited access to resources. Streamlining the application process shows FEMA’s commitment to deliver its hazard mitigation programs with equity and supports building capacity and capability in underserved and at-risk communities.
Summary of the guidance
The guidance establishes pre-calculated benefit values to reduce the time and resources needed to complete and review cost-effectiveness for hospital generators, acquisitions, and elevation projects. In addition, it aims to increase the availability of mitigation opportunities to help communities increase resilience against future disasters.
Hospital generators
The memorandum “Pre-Calculated Benefits for Certain Hospital Generators to Demonstrate Cost-Effectiveness” applies to Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant program application periods that are open on or after Sept. 30, 2021 and applies only to generator projects in hospitals with emergency departments.
Acquisitions and Elevations
The memorandum, “Cost-Effectiveness Determinations for Acquisitions and Elevations in Special Flood Hazard Areas Using Pre-Calculated Benefits,” is effective Sept. 30, 2021 and applies to applications regardless of when the application period opened. The updated pre-calculated benefit values that can be used to determine cost effectiveness of elevations and acquisitions in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) are:
- Acquisitions: $323,000 per structure
- Elevations (and Mitigation Reconstruction): $205,000 per structure
FEMA allows the pre-calculated benefit values to be applied to new applications for these five Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs: Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities, Flood Mitigation Assistance, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, HMGP Post Fire and Pre-Disaster Mitigation. This guidance may also be applied to any mitigation projects with a “pending” or “selected for further review” status where the application period has expired.
The Benefit Cost Analysis Helpline hours are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Monday through Friday. Email questions to the Benefit Cost Analysis Helpline or call toll free at 855-540-6744.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact FEMA Office of External Affairs:
- Congressional Affairs at (202) 646-4500 or at FEMA-Congressional-Affairs@fema.dhs.gov
- Intergovernmental Affairs at (202) 646-3444 or at FEMA-IGA@fema.dhs.gov
- Tribal Affairs at (202) 646-3444 or at FEMA-Tribal@fema.dhs.gov
- Private Sector Engagement at (202) 646-3444 or at nbeoc@max.gov
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Follow FEMA on social media at: FEMA Blog on fema.gov, @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol on Twitter, FEMA or FEMA Espanol on Facebook, @FEMA on Instagram, and via FEMA YouTube channel.
Also, follow Administrator Deanne Criswell on Twitter @FEMA_Deanne.
FEMA Mission
Helping people before, during, and after disasters.
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