Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program

Please note that as of the FY2003 funding cycle, FMA planning and project funds can only be used in communities which have a "repetitive loss" property, as shown on FEMA's Repetitive Loss List. For more information about this requirement, contact Steve McMaster at the telephone number or email address listed below.

FEMA's Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) provides funding to assist States and communities in implementing measures to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to buildings, manufactured homes, and other structures insurable under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). FMA was created as part of the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 4101) with the goal of reducing or eliminating claims under the NFIP. The FMA is a pre-disaster grant program.

Planning is the foundation of FMA. FEMA encourages communities to identify ways to reduce their risk of flood damage by preparing a Flood Mitigation Plan. Communities that have Flood Mitigation Plans can request approval of their plans from their FMA State Point of Contact (POC) and FEMA. Approved plans make a community eligible to apply for FMA project grants. Plans must assess flood risk and identify actions to mitigate their risk(s).

There are two types of grants available to communities: Planning grants and Project grants.

Planning Grants

Planning grants are used to develop or update Flood Mitigation Plans. Take this link for an online copy (Adobe Acrobat format) of the Nebraska Community Flood Mitigation Planning Guidebook. This Guidebook was developed by the NNRC and leads officials or consultants through the process of developing a flood mitigation plan which will be approved by the State POC and by FEMA. Planning grant money is available to partially-fund activities performed to meet the Federally-mandeated criteria in the development of a flood mitigation plan. If a community does not have the 100-year floodplain(s) delineated, an engineering firm will need to determine those boundaries. In addition, first-floor elevations will need to be compiled for all structures determined to be at risk in the floodplain or floodway. If a community's resources are limited, grant money may also be used to draft the actual mitigation plan itself. Communities with adequate economic development resources should be able to draft a mitigation plan in-house; this will reduce the cost of the planning grant and make more money available for additional plans to be developed around Nebraska.

Project Grants

Project grants go to States and communities in order to implement the mitigative measures identified in their mitigation plan. Projects that reduce or eliminate the risk of flood damage to structures insured by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) are eligible.

Examples of Eligible Projects:

Elevation
Acquisition
Relocation
Demolition
Floodproofing
Minor, localized structural projects that are not fundable by State or other Federal programs.

Applicant Eligibility Any State agency, participating NFIP community, or qualified local organization is eligible to participate in FMA. Communities that are suspended or on probation from the NFIP are not eligible. Individuals wishing to participate in FMA should contact their community officials.

Project Grant Eligibility Criteria

Cost effective
Cost beneficial to the National Flood Insurance Fund
Technically feasible
Physically located in a participating NFIP community or must reduce future flood damages in an NFIP community

A project must also conform with:

The minimum standards of the NFIP Floodplain Management Regulations
The applicant's Flood Mitigation Plan
All applicable laws and regulations, such as Federal and State environmental standards or local building codes

Program Administration
FEMA distributes FMA funds to States, which in turn provide funds to communities. The State serves as the grantee and program administrator for the FMA. The State:

Sets mitigation priorities
Provides technical assistance to communities applying for FMA funds
Evaluates grant applications based on minimum eligibility criteria and State priorities
Awards planning grants
Works with FEMA to approve projects and awards funds to communities
Ensures that all community applicants are aware of their grant management responsibilities

Cost-Share and Funding Limits
FEMA may contribute up to 75 percent of the total eligible costs. At least 25 percent of the total eligible costs must be provided by a nonfederal source. Of this 25 percent, no more than half (or 12.5% of the total project) can be provided as in-kind contributions from third parties. There are limits on the frequency of grants and the amount of funding that can be allocated to a State or community in any 5-year period.

For More Information
Go here to read about current FMA program activities in Nebraska. For more information on how to apply for an FMA grant, contact Nebraska's State FMA Point of Contact at the following address, phone number, or email link.

Steve McMaster
Nebraska Department of Natural Resources
301 Centennial Mall South
P.O. Box 94676
Lincoln, NE 68509-4676
Telephone: (402) 471-3957
Fax: (402) 471-2900
smcmaster@dnr.ne.gov