The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) provides federal funds after a major disaster declaration. HMGP is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and administered by the State of Texas. While related to disasters, the HMGP is not a disaster relief program for individual disaster victims, or a recovery program that funds repairs to public property damaged during a disaster. It is a mitigation grant designed to:
- Prevent or reduce future losses to lives and property through the identification and funding of mitigation measures;
- Minimize the costs of future disaster response and recovery.
The HMGP can fund measures in a community that protect public and private property, so long as the measures are included in the community’s FEMA-approved Hazard Mitigation Plan, are cost effective, and comply with all Federal and State program guidelines.
The HMGP provides federal funds up to 75% of the cost of hazard mitigation projects. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, Indian Tribes, and certain non-profit organizations and institutions. Selected sub-grantees must contribute at least 25% of the cost of their projects. The 25% match can be made in a variety of ways, including “in kind” services.
Some eligible project types are:
- Creation and Updates of Community Hazard Mitigation Plans
- Acquisition/Demolition
- Minor Localized Flood Reduction Projects
- Wind/Fire/Flood Retrofitting of Existing Structures
- Safe Room Construction
- Wildfire Mitigation
- Generators
- Warning Sirens
- Public Information Campaigns
Applicants for any project other than a creation or update to a Hazard Mitigation Plan must have a FEMA approved Hazard Mitigation Plan in place before submitting their application.