Mitigation is synonymous with prevention. Communities undertake mitigation actively through zoning and planning and land use development and regulation. Mitigation allows a community to assume a given risk--such as flooding--and take necessary precautions prior to an event to limit damage and exposure. The primary objectives of a mitigation program are to improve the community’s resistance to damage from known natural, technological, and societal hazards, reduce the cost of disaster at all levels; and speed community recovery when disasters occur. Effective mitigation efforts can break the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage.
Mitigation Grant Programs
FEMA's Mitigation Grant programs provide funding for eligible mitigation activities that reduce disaster losses and protect life and property from future disaster damages. Currently, FEMA administers the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program, and the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program, the Repetitive Flood Claims (RFC) program, and the Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) program. The two new grant programs, RFC and SRL, are designed to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flooding to NFIP-insured structures, and thereby reduce the number of claims paid from the National Flood Insurance Fund (NFIF). FEMA's mitigation grants are provided to eligible Applicant States/Tribes/Territories that, in turn, provide sub-grants to local governments. The Applicant selects and prioritizes applications developed and submitted to them by local jurisdictions to submit to FEMA for grant funds. Prospective Sub-applicants should consult the official designated point of contact for their Applicant State/Tribe/Territory for further information regarding specific program and application requirements.
Mitigation Links
Recovery is the process of returning a community to its pre-disaster condition. Recovery is an ongoing activity that may continue for many years after a given event. Long- term recovery includes the repair or reconstruction of buildings and infrastructure, as well as consideration and implementation of mitigation projects and initiatives. There are three basic functions during recovery: 1. Damage Assessment; an appraisal in dollars of how much destruction has occurred. 2. Individual Assistance; the provision of monetary aid to individuals affected by a disaster and 3. Public Assistance; assistance which is provided to repair or reconstruct publicly owned facilities, infrastructure or services.
Recovery Links