Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Created

Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988 establishes the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program,which helps communities devastated by disaster to build back stronger.

1988

First Mitigation Project

Following the Virgin River floods in St. George, Utah at the beginning of the year, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program awards the city funds to purchase shore land to prevent development of the area. By doing so, the city mitigates destruction from any future flooding.

First Generator Project

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program assists in installing a generator and switch gear at the North Charleston, South Carolina sewer district administrative offices to maintain emergency communications during a disaster.

Implementation of Warning Systems

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds the installation of instruments in Utah that record water and riverfall levels. These instruments also directly transmit information to emergency offices to provide warnings for evacuation in the event of possible flooding.

1990

First Saferoom

The first saferoom is built in Iowa to protect people during severe weather

First Seismic Retrofits

The state of California becomes the first recipient of seismic retrofit projects to include structural bracing and improvements.

Community Rating System Established

In its first year, 295 communities joined this new program established in the National Flood Insurance Program. The Community Rating System provides premium discounts to communities that develop extra flood protection by going beyond the minimum floodplain management requirements, recognizing the reduced risk in communities that protect against floods.

1991

First Relocation Project

In the previous year Allagash, Maine fell victim to a flood that caused extensive damage. As a result, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides funding to repair and mitigate damaged homes, relocate existing homes to a less flood-prone area, or purchase new homes when it is more feasible than trying to repair and relocate damaged homes.

First Wildfire Mitigation Project

The State of California replaces the abundant growth of eucalyptus trees and shrubs with more fire-resistant native trees in Chabot Park and neighboring areas.

1992

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program’s First Tribal Project

The Campo Indian Reservation in California receives a grant to fund an erosion project to mitigate flooding.

First Landslide Stabilization Project

Washington State and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program partner to perform a slope stabilization and watershed repair in the Hood Canal Ranger District to assist in retention and control of storm runoff.

First Elevation Project

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds projects in coastal Massachusetts to protect homes that have been repeatedly damaged by flooding including floodproofing, retrofitting and the first elevation projects.

Hazard Mitigation and Relocation Assistance Act

In December President Clinton signs the Hazard Mitigation and Relocation Assistance Act which increases federal contribution toward acquiring and relocating structures damaged by floods. This is in response to voluntary acquisition being identified as a viable project type following the Great Midwest Flood of 1993.

1993

The Community Rating System is codified in the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994

The Flood Mitigation Assistance Program is created.

The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Grant Program provides funding for activities that reduce or eliminate losses from flooding.

1994

$1B in Obligated Grants

Lifetime Congressional-obligation funding awarded to Hazard Mitigation Assistance exceeds $1 Billion.

1996

Project Impact

Project Impact is launched to educate communities on how to mitigate risks caused by natural disasters.

1997

The Disaster Mitigation Act

Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 is implemented increasing state, local and tribal government mitigation coordination and state mitigation funding.

The Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program is created

The Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant Program helps communities reduce risk from future disasters.

2000

First Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program Tribal Grantee, Michigan

2003

First Tribal Government Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan

Lummi Nation becomes the first tribal government to receive approval for a Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan.

1,000 Communities Participating in the Community Rating System

First Enhanced State Mitigation Plan

Washington State receives approval for an Enhanced State Mitigation Plan by demonstrating its comprehensive mitigation program and capability of managing increased funding.

2004

$5B in Obligated Grants

Lifetime Congressional-obligation funding awarded to Hazard Mitigation Assistance exceeds $5 Billion.

Largest Project

The largest project obligation funding to date, totaling $678.3 million is awarded through a pilot Reconstruction Grant program. Funding is used to support mitigation activities for areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma in the following states: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

Benefit Cost Ratio is 4:1

The National Institute of Building Sciences Multihazard Mitigation Council determines a 4:1 mitigation Benefit Cost Ratio. On average, every $1 spent on mitigation results in a $4 return of avoided future losses.

2005

100,000 Properties Mitigated

Total number of properties mitigated through Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants exceeds 100,000.

2007

Hazard Mitigation Assistance Guidance

FEMA’s five mitigation programs – Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program, Flood Mitigation Assistance Program, Repetitive Flood Claims Program, and Severe Repetitive Loss Program – are incorporated into one comprehensive guidance document.

2009

$10B in Obligated Grants

Lifetime Congressional-obligation funding awarded to Hazard Mitigation Assistance exceeds $10 Billion

2010

Programmatic Environmental Assessment

FEMA completes a Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) to address potential impacts on the human environment from installing and constructing safe rooms. The PEA provides the analysis and structure for future safe room construction projects with similarly, identified scopes to undergo minimum Office of Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation analysis and meet Federal requirements.

2011

The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act

The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 is passed by Congress extending the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for five years, while requiring significant program reform. The law requires changes to all major components of the program, including flood insurance, flood hazard mapping, grants, and the management of floodplains. Many of the changes are designed to make the NFIP more financially stable, and ensure that flood insurance rates more accurately reflect the real risk of flooding.

2012

Total Funding Awarded to the Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program exceeds $100 Million

Sandy Recovery Improvement Act

The Sandy Recovery Improvement Act amends the Stafford Act so that tribes are now equivalent to states in their ability to request an emergency or major disaster declaration from the President.

First Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Tribal Grant

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina receives the first Hazard Mitigation Grant Program tribal grant following a major Presidentially-Declared disaster.

Program Administration by States

Florida becomes the first state to sign and implement a Program Administration by States (PAS) agreement. PAS gives greater authority to states, territories and tribes to administer grants. Since PAS’s conception, six states have successfully implemented it: Florida, Iowa, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.

2013

Unified Federal Environmental and Historic Preservation Review

The Unified Federal Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) Review provides a framework for handling EHP requirements during disaster recovery.

Tornado-Specific Building Code

Moore, Oklahoma becomes the first city in the nation to adopt a tornado-specific residential building code. Homes are now required to be built to withstand 135 mile per hour winds.

2014

Fire Management Assistance Grant Program

The Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) program is authorized under the amended Stafford Act. Through it, FEMA provides grants for equipment, supplies, and personnel costs, to any state, tribal, or local government for the mitigation, management, and control of any fire that qualifies as a major disaster on public or private forest land or grassland.

Eligible project types include defensible space, structural protection using ignition resistant materials, and limiting hazardous fuels reduction.

Climate Resilient Mitigation Activities Developed

FEMA announces three Climate Resilient Mitigation Activities (CRMA): Aquifer Storage and Recovery, Floodplain and Stream Restoration, and Flood Diversion and Storage which encourage nature-based, design mitigation.

2015

Insurance & Mitigation Readiness Division Created

Insurance & Mitigation Readiness Division (IMRD) is formed to coordinate disaster readiness and operations for the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration.

New Benefit-Cost Analysis Tools

Hazard Mitigation Assistance releases Benefit-Cost Analysis tools for drought, ecosystem services, and post-wildfire mitigation as guidance for measuring the cost effectiveness of environmental benefits.

2016

First Drought Mitigation Project

Hazard Mitigation Assistance works with Salinas, Puerto Rico to mitigate effects on its agriculture, economy, health care and school systems and residential life caused by a drought that began in 2015. The project involves using a canal to reroute overflow water from a nearby reservoir into the city.

2017

$15B in Obligated Grants

Hazard Mitigation Assistance reaches $15 Billion in Congressionally-obligated funds.

Benefit Cost Ratio is 6:1

The National Institute of Building Sciences Multihazard Mitigation Council announces a 6:1 mitigation Benefit Cost Ratio. On average, every $1 spent on mitigation results in a $6 return of avoided future losses.

138,000 Properties Mitigated

Total number of properties mitigated through Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants exceeds 138,000.

1,500 Communities Participate in the Community Rating System

FEMA anticipates approximately 1,500 Community Rating System participants will help reduce flood damages to insurable properties, encourage a comprehensive approach to floodplain management, and strengthen and support portions of the National Flood Insurance Program

2018