Using FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants to Fund Local Risk-Reduction Efforts. A lot has changed in the world of FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants recently, including the release of a new Program and Policy Guide (2023), and a significant overall expansion of federal mitigation funds. WA communities are well positioned to take advantage of these cost-share grants, but only if they can navigate the complexities and submit competitive risk-reduction proposals. WA EMD’s hazard mitigation office has been increasing its capacity to manage the unprecedented number of new and emerging grant rounds, with a focus on ensuring that all WA’s communities—large and small—have equitable access to the funds. In this session, officials from WA EMD’s hazard mitigation office will 1) provide an overview of the current FEMA mitigation grant programs like BRIC, FMA, and HMGP, 2 ) highlight past and current local risk-reduction projects successfully funded with these grants, and 3) provide guidance for local EM offices to ensure their jurisdiction can compete for current and future grants.

What Will the Audience Learn:

The audience will gain an understanding of available FEMA funding for mitigation projects under the Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Program. We will review eligibility, suitability and other requirements under the following HMA programs: HMGP, HMGP Post Fire, BRIC and FMA. We will highlight past and current local risk-reduction projects that have been successfully funded with these grants. We will provide guidance for local EM offices to ensure their jurisdictions can compete for current and future grant funding.

Course Level: Intermediate

About the Presenters

Jenny Mitchell: Jenny is a grant coordinator for Washington State’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants program. She’s been with Washington’s emergency management division since early 2023 and started with Public Assistance and Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG) on the recovery side. Now she works on the mitigation side to help reduce the damages that occur during disasters. After seeing all the effort that went into trying to recover from major disasters and fires, she loves working towards more resilient communities and a better future.

Chris Credle is one of the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Coordinators at Washington States Hazard Mitigation office. After Retiring from the Military in 2014 and providing benefits for Union Members across multiple states for 7 years; he found a new way to continue serving his community through Hazard Mitigation. He Joined the Hazard Mitigation team at the beginning of January 2022.