Planning
Successful mitigation activities, including those assisted by HMA programs, are based on well-crafted mitigation plans.
Mitigation plans allow state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to organize their long-term strategies for protecting people and property from future natural hazard events after assessing all disaster risks and vulnerabilities common to their planning areas. The mitigation planning process is prescribed in regulations and should result in mitigation actions based on a fair, logical, and fact-based thought process. The mitigation plan must be adopted by the jurisdiction and approved by FEMA unless otherwise delegated. Adoption and approval of state, local, tribal, and territorial plans are eligibility requirements for FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), HMGP Post Fire, Building Resilient Infrastructure & Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant programs. State and tribal mitigation plans are also eligibility requirements for Public Assistance Categories C-G, Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs), and the Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dam (HHPD) grants. These plans need to be updated every five years to account for changing risk profiles and priorities.
FEMA Releases Updated Local Mitigation Planning Handbook
The Local Mitigation Planning Handbook is a plain-language tool to help local governments develop or update hazard mitigation plans. It gives guidance, case studies, definitions and resources that help make mitigation planning easier.
Hazard mitigation plans are blueprints to build resilient communities. Plans pinpoint natural hazard risks and vulnerabilities in the planning area. Then planners develop strategies to reduce these risks and vulnerabilities.
Download the 2025 Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide. The updated Handbook provides more details on ways to develop mitigation plans that meet the policy and regulatory requirements.
Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves Study
Mitigation has a 6:1 return on investment ratio; mitigation is key to recovery.
Summary of Findings for the National Institute of Building Science’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves 2017 Interim Report provides benefit-cost ratios (BCRs) for several hazard types and mitigation measures. Focal points of this interim report are the net benefits of federal hazard mitigation grant projects, and exceeding building code requirements.
Specifically, the costs and benefits of designing new construction to exceed select provisions of the 2015 International Building Code (IBC), the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC) and implementation of the 2015 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC), which resulted in a national benefit of $4 for every $1 invested. Additionally studied were the net benefits of impacts of 23 years of federal mitigation grants provided by the FEMA, Economic Development Administration (EDA) and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), resulting in a national benefit of $6 for every $1 invested.
Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: 2017 Interim Report
FEMA Mitigation Saves Fact Sheet
Intro to Incentivization
Building Codes Set the Foundation for Mitigation Investments
EQ Mitigation Benefits
Federal Grants Mitigation Benefits
Mitigation Measures Reduce Injuries Deaths Create Jobs
Riverine Flood Mitigation Benefits
Wind Mitigation Benefits
WUI Mitigation Benefits
Special Districts Participating in Mitigation Planning Fact Sheet (2024)
The Role of Local Leadership
How Can Local Leaders Promote the Integration of Hazard Mitigation into Local Planning?
Local community leaders and decision makers play an important role in setting priorities, providing overarching policy direction, and bringing stakeholders together. Their visibility can be used to spearhead initiatives that promote the importance of integrating hazard mitigation to achieve overall community safety and resilience. In addition, they can communicate with a broad base of constituents and partners. These qualities are invaluable for the success of an integrated, interdepartmental, multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation strategy.
Climate Adaptation Planning Guide for Emergency Managers
FEMA Resource to Align Community Plans and Build Resilience
A FEMA resource will help economic development and hazard mitigation planners achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and Hazard Mitigation Plan Alignment Guide connects economic development and hazard mitigation plans so communities can be more resilient from natural hazards. The guide was a collaboration between FEMA and the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA).
Communities, states and federal officials can use the guide when preparing or reviewing FEMA Hazard Mitigation Plans and EDA Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies. Included in the guide are strategies to help align strategies with approved local plans.
Hazard mitigation plans and EDA Strategies are key plans to improve community resilience. An EDA Strategy must include economic resilience in its approach while a hazard mitigation plan identifies and plans for natural hazard risks to key sectors, including the economy. Aligning plans can benefit communities in many ways, including businesses reopening more quickly and keeping critical facilities and infrastructure working during and after hazard events.
Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool
FEMA offers a free, easy-to-use geographic information systems (GIS) tool that helps emergency managers and community partners visualize, prioritize and implement strategies to build resilience. In addition, this tool assesses potential challenges to community resilience to help make strategic decisions for mitigation, response and recovery.
The 2024 update of the Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool (RAPT) includes new census data from the American Community Survey five year estimate (2018-2022) and updated Community Resilience Challenges Indices (CRCI) for counties and census tracts. The web map allows users of all GIS skill levels to combine layers of community resilience indicators, infrastructure locations and hazard data. The 2024 update also includes a preview of Future RAPT built with ArcGIS Experience Builder, Esri’s new web app tool.
RAPT includes over 100 pre-loaded data layers and the tool’s functionality allows users to visualize combinations of these data layers for a specific location.
Visit the RAPT Resource Center to access supporting materials, learn more about RAPT functionality and see how it can improve resilience planning in your community.
FEMA Updates the Climate Risk and Resilience (ClimRR) Portal
The Climate Risk and Resilience Portal (ClimRR) is an award-winning, free, national online source for sophisticated climate data down to the neighborhood level. ClimRR provides easy access to climate data to integrate future conditions into Hazard Mitigation Plans, land use plans, infrastructure design, and FEMA’s Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool (RAPT).
ClimRR data is available for changing hazards: extreme temperatures (hot and cold), cooling and heating degree days, heat index, wind, fire weather index, precipitation/no precipitation under two carbon emission scenarios. The updated portal lets users visualize and analyze future climate hazards combined with local demographic and infrastructure data.
2023 Community Resilience Estimates and Natural Hazard Risk Ranking Tables
The U.S. Census Bureau released the 2023 Community Resilience Estimates (CRE), which highlight socially vulnerable areas in the United States.
Along with a new CRE interactive tool, this release includes seven ranking tables per geographic level, highlighting the nation’s most socially vulnerable counties (top 25) and census tracts (top 100) in the following context:
- Winter weather risk areas (i.e., snow, sleet and freezing rain)
- Flooding risk areas (i.e., coastal flooding and riverine flooding)
- Hurricane risk areas
- Strong wind risk areas (i.e., damaging winds exceeding 58 mph)
- Wildfire risk areas
- Earthquake risk areas (new for 2023 CRE)
Community resilience is the capacity of individuals and households within a community to absorb the external stresses of a disaster. Read More
FEMA Releases National Resilience Guidance
FEMA announces the release of the National Resilience Guidance (NRG). The NRG offers a unifying vision of resilience and the principles and steps all communities and organizations can take to increase their resilience in every sector and discipline.
National resilience is a complex topic, and building it requires whole community effort. This Guidance will help everyone understand and fulfil their critical roles related to increasing national resilience. With the goal of increasing community and national resilience, the Guidance:
- Promotes a common understanding of resilience.
- Emphasizes the critical relationship between chronic community stressors and acute shocks.
- Addresses the roles of individuals, organizations, and all levels of government.
- Provides an actionable approach to resilience planning and implementation.
- Incorporates a community resilience maturity model that walks through concrete steps to build resilience.
National Resilience Guidance
Hazus 7.0 in ArcGIS Pro
Hazus 7.0, the latest version of FEMA’s risk assessment software, is now available. This release marks the first in the transition to ArcGIS Pro, setting the stage for future updates as we work to migrate key functionalities.
Key Highlights of Hazus 7.0:
- Integration with ArcGIS Pro: Bringing a modern, efficient user experience
- Simplified Workflows: Streamlined workflows for flood and hurricane analyses
- Improved Flood Model Methodologies: Implementing a depth-limited approach for coastal flood zone designation
- Flexible Average Annualized Loss (AAL) Calculation for Flood Analyses: Users can now use any 3 or more multi-return period depth grids, offering greater flexibility in calculating AAL for flood scenarios.
- HURREVAC Integration: HURREVAC is now fully integrated within Hazus, eliminating the need for the Hurricane Hazard Import Tool.
What’s Available in This Release:
- Ability to install and run Hazus 6.1 and 7.0 side-by-side without interference
- Capability to run a Hazus flood analysis with user supplied depth grid(s)
- Capability to run a Hazus hurricane analysis using HURREVAC data without the need for an open-source tool
- Export, share, and import projects from Hazus 7.0 with others who also have 7.0.
Not all functionalities from previous Hazus versions are available in Hazus 7.0. This release brings new streamlined workflows and an updated user interface for hurricane and flood models. Some models, like earthquake and tsunami, are not yet available in Hazus 7.0.
To ensure you’re still supported, Hazus 6.1 remains fully compatible with ArcMap 10.8.2, and both 6.1 and 7.0 can be run side by side without interference. This allows you to explore the latest advancements in Hazus 7.0 while continuing to use additional features available in Hazus 6.1.
Download Hazus 7.0 for ArcGIS Pro
View Hazus 7.0 Release Notes
View Hazus 7.0 User Guide
Integrating Children’s Needs into Disaster Planning Workshop
FEMA’s Community Preparedness: Integrating the Needs of Children workshop is a free resource designed to bring emergency managers, medical professionals, childcare providers and other partners together to boost community resilience. It walks participants through identifying the organizations, requirements and resources needed in their preparedness programs to ensure that children are kept safe and healthy during disasters. The interactive workshop can be delivered in person or online and allows for meaningful engagement with community partners to advance disaster preparedness planning.
Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the importance of and reasons for integrating child-specific concerns throughout their community’s emergency management program.
- Identify necessary stakeholders to include in planning efforts.
- Assess policy and program planning requirements for child-specific needs.
- Describe the importance of embedding child safeguarding principles throughout a community’s emergency management program.
Community Preparedness: Integrating the Needs of Children Workshop Guide
FEMA and the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers Release Disaster Preparedness Guide
FEMA and the Rosalind Carter Institute for Caregivers (RCI) announced the release of the Take Control in 1, 2, 3: Disaster Preparedness Guide for Caregivers. The guide was developed with a deep understanding of the role of caregivers and the challenges they face and provides actionable steps to help them and those they care for become more resilient to disasters and emergencies.
“Few people understood the important role caregivers play in their community like First Lady Rosalynn Carter. Her commitment to uplifting caregivers lives on in the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers — an organization we at FEMA are thrilled to partner with to release our new preparedness guide,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “For many vulnerable populations, caregivers are the first responders in times of crisis. This new guide recognizes the challenges many caregivers face and provides actionable steps to not only increase their resilience but also keep themselves and those they care for safe during emergencies.”
With an estimated 53 million Americans providing care for someone who is ill, has a disability or is an older adult, the need for proactive disaster preparedness within the caregiver community cannot be overstated. The guide addresses the unique challenges faced by caregivers and offers practical solutions to ensure the safety and well-being of both caregivers and care recipients in the event of a disaster. Informed by the invaluable insights of caregivers within RCI’s 4Kinds Network, this comprehensive guide equips family caregivers and their care recipients with essential resources and tools to navigate and prepare for unforeseen disasters. The guide divides planning into three actionable steps: identifying barriers and risks, connecting with partners and resources, and making a plan. The guidance is tailored depending on whether a caregiver is planning alongside their care recipient, engaging a support network, or providing support as a solo caregiver.
New Course for Community Planners Available on APA Learn
Every planner can help build a resilient future. A new FEMA-funded course helps community planners know their role in hazard mitigation, build mitigation skills, and work towards community resilience.
Planners can enroll today for Planning, Mitigating, and Advocating for Community Resilience.
Emergency managers are encouraged to share this course with community planners and planning departments.
By the end of this course, participants will:
· Know how mitigation plans and actions work together to boost community resilience.
· Be able to work with emergency managers and local staff to put together a mitigation planning process.
· Be ready for challenges in mitigation planning. These may include a lack of joint efforts with planners, as well as poor integration of other local plans and tools.
· Use planning tools (such as zoning or capital improvement) as mitigation actions.
· Work with local leaders, staff, the public, and others to push for mitigation planning and reducing risk.
· This course is eligible for 1.75 CM credits for American Planning Association (APA) members of the American Institute of Certified Planners. It is also free!
The APA hosts this course. To learn more, visit the APA Learn web page.
Mitigation and Climate Action Planning Resources Available from the American Planning Association
With support from FEMA’s Cooperating Technical Partners program, the American Planning Association (APA) produced the following mitigation and climate action planning resources. Explore these resources via the links below.
PAS Memo 113: The Use of Foresight and Scenario Planning in Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation
Scenario planning can help planners make communities more resilient from future conditions; these conditions can include extreme weather and changing demographics. This PAS Memo offers guidance to planners on how to expand the use of foresight through exploratory scenario planning in both the hazard mitigation and climate adaptation fields.
Planning Information Exchange Webinar: Foresight and Scenario Planning for Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation. Presented by APA during 2022 National Community Planning Month, the recording of this webinar defines the use cases for scenario planning for both hazard mitigation and climate adaptation.
2022 Survey of State Planning Laws: Land Use, Hazard Mitigation and Climate Action. This story map summarizes key themes that emerged from the 2022 survey. The interactive maps allow users to view details on key laws that affect hazard mitigation and climate action planning for each state.
For more resources that help communities integrate principles of hazard mitigation with planning efforts visit FEMA’s Implement, Integrate and Maintain Mitigation Planning Activities page.
How Hazard Mitigation and Water Resource Planning
Flow Together Webinar
This webinar is part of the “From Policy to Action” series hosted by FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Planning Program. A recording of the webinar is now available.
Watch the Recording
Find all of the Hazard Mitigation Planning webinars in one convenient pla
Results from the 2023 National Household Survey on Disaster Preparedness
Read the National Preparedness Report Here. Since 2013, FEMA has conducted the National Household Survey on Disaster Preparedness. This survey of people from across the United States gauges the nation’s disaster preparedness actions, attitudes, and motivations. The 2023 survey conducted from February 1 through March 14, 2023 included over 7,600 responses. Results from the 2023 survey indicate that slightly more than half (51%) of Americans believe they are prepared for a disaster and 57% took three or more actions to prepare for a disaster within the last year. The most common actions people took to prepare for a disaster were assembling or updating disaster supplies (48%) and making a plan (37%); the least common actions were planning with neighbors (12%) and getting
involved in their community (14%). Read Key Findings
Federal Partners in Hazard Mitigation
In addition to FEMA, there are Federal agency partners with hazard mitigation and resilience programs that can work with your mitigation plan and program.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Smart Growth Strategies for Disaster Resilience and Recovery
In 2023, EPA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) updated a Memorandum of Agreement that makes it easier for the two agencies to work together to help communities become safer, healthier, and more resilient. The agencies collaborate to help communities hit by disasters rebuild in ways that protect the environment, create long-term economic prosperity and enhance neighborhoods.
FEMA and EPA also help communities incorporate strategies that improve quality of life and direct development away from disaster-prone areas into their hazard mitigation plans. EPA and FEMA are using the lessons they learn from working together under this agreement and with other federal agencies to better coordinate assistance to communities on hazard mitigation planning and post-disaster recovery. The Memorandum of Agreement also helps the agencies work together on climate change adaptation.
Disaster Resilient Design Concepts
Creating Disaster Resilient Buildings to Minimize Disaster Debris
EPA Hazard Mitigation Guide for Utilities
The EPA has created a user-friendly guide that helps utilities understand how to reduce the impact of natural disasters. This guide explains why mitigation is important, how it should be included in your community’s local mitigation plan, how to identify mitigation projects for each disaster, and how to implement and fund those projects.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Consolidated Plans The HUD Consolidated Planning Process requires that states and local governments evaluate how vulnerable low- and moderate-income housing is to natural hazards. Communities evaluate housing vulnerability using readily available data developed by federal agencies, other analyses (like a hazard mitigation plan), and information available to state and local government grantees.
The Consolidated Plan is designed to help states and local jurisdictions to assess their affordable housing and community development needs and market conditions, and to make data-driven, place-based investment decisions. The consolidated planning process serves as the framework for a community-wide dialogue to identify housing and community development priorities that align and focus funding from the CPD formula block grant programs: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program, Housing Trust Fund (HTF) Program, Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program, and Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Program. The Consolidated Plan is carried out through Annual Action Plans, which provide a concise summary of the actions, activities, and the specific federal and non-federal resources that will be used each year to address the priority needs and specific goals identified by the Consolidated Plan. Grantees report on accomplishments and progress toward Consolidated Plan goals in the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER).
More information: Consolidated Plan Process, Grant Programs, and Related HUD Programs,
Economic Development Administration
The Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) guidelines support building strong economies in America’s communities. CEDS guidelines encourage communities to consider how they anticipate risk, evaluate how risk can affect key economic assets, and build responsive capacity. The guidelines encourage coordination with local hazard mitigation planning.
Latest EDA Grants | U.S. Economic Development Administration
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Silver Jackets Program
The Silver Jackets are cooperative teams that bring together many partners to work on risk reduction. Members of the Silver Jackets learn from one another and apply their knowledge to reduce the risk of flooding and other natural disasters. They also enhance response and recovery efforts.
Kentucky’s Silver Jackets team has been active since 2009, focusing on developing collaborative solutions to reduce flood risk across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Team’s main objectives are to:
- Share knowledge and information amongst the members of the group and their respective agencies.
- Leverage resources among the agencies represented.
- Serve as good stewards of the investments of our taxpayers.
- Serve the citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
American Planning Association Reports for FEMA
The American Planning Association (APA) prepared the following reports supported by contracts with FEMA. Hard copies may be ordered through the APA Planners Book Service online, by phone at (800) 634-7064 (costs may apply), or downloaded here if available.
Hazard Mitigation: Integrating Best Practices into Planning (PAS 560) (2010) offers best practices to integrate hazard mitigation into local planning processes.
Planning for Post-disaster Recovery: Next Generation (PAS 576) (2014) is the updated guide for communities to help strengthen their ability to prepare for and implement resilient disaster recovery. It is an update of the 2005 Report, Planning for Post-disaster Recovery and Reconstruction (FEMA 421, PAS 483-484).
Subdivision Design and Flood Hazard Areas (PAS 584), prepared by APA and the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM), provides communities with best practices to bring subdivision design together with floodplain planning. The report includes six planning and design principles, nine recommendations to keep subdivisions safe from flooding, plus standards for review, inspection, and maintenance.
Solar Workforce Development
Hazard Mitigation Online Training
Online NFIP 101: Introduction to Floodplain Management
Want to learn floodplain management basics? Don’t have the ability to attend a four-day training? Maybe you just want to brush up on one or two floodplain management topics? In partnership with the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM), FEMA’s Floodplain Management Division has anonline, self-paced course - NFIP 101: Introduction to Floodplain Management. The course is free and available to the general public. You may start, stop, and return to the course as your schedule permits, and you may take it as many times as you’d like. ASFPM is hosting the course and you can find it on their Training and Knowledge page under the “On-Demand Learning” heading, or link to NFIP101 (floods.org).
Two Ways to Use the Course:
· Obtain a certificate of completion from FEMA’s Floodplain Management Division and 12 continuing education credits from ASFPM, both of which are earned after completing the course and passing the final exam.
· As a reference guide on fundamental floodplain management concepts. No need to take the course all over again, just jump to the Chapter or Section you need a refresher on.
This course is intended for those just beginning a career in floodplain management. It provides:
· Local, state, tribal, territorial, and federal officials with the knowledge and skills to administer and enforce floodplain management regulations;
· New floodplain administrators with information and communication techniques to explain the impact of floodplain management decisions on insurance, public safety, and health; and
· An overview of NFIP minimum floodplain management regulations based on the types of flood hazards identified as well as Substantial Improvement (SI) and Substantial Damage (SD) and describes the use of a permitting process as a floodplain management oversight and compliance tool.
While the content of this course is congruent with EMI’s EL-0273: Managing Floodplain Development Through the NFIP, successful completion of this course does not confer credit from EMI. Interested parties should visit https://training.fema.gov/netc_online_admissions/ to inquire about in-person E-273 courses or reach out to their State NFIP Coordinators to inquire about the locally offered, in-person L-273 course. However, students need not choose between the in-person, classroom experience versus the online course. Both are useful and can meet differing scheduling/topic needs.
Registration
FEMA Substantial Damage Estimator Training Modules
When structures within the floodplain are damaged, NFIP communities have a responsibility to assess impacts before repairs can be made, no matter the cause of the damage. If the repair cost is 50% or more of the structure’s market value, the structure must be protected from future flood damages using the community’s local floodplain management standards (i.e. Flood Ordinance). Rebuilding to current standards decreases risk to life and property and prevents future disaster suffering.
To help floodplain managers and other local officials with implementing these Substantial Damage reviews, FEMA has put together a set of training videos (modules) that walk you through the process. Some examples of the modules include SD Basics, Using the SDE Tool, Residential vs. Non-Residential SDEs, Field Inspections, and more.
Watch the Substantial Damage Estimator Trainings HERE.
Download the tool and other resources here.
Hazard Mitigation Planning and Water Resource Management Module
The Watershed Academy has a Hazard Mitigation Planning and Water Resource Management Module. This module is intended for water quality and hazard mitigation professionals that are interested in integrating water quality issues and/or nature-based solutions into state or local Hazard Mitigation Plans (HMPs) and highlights the benefits of working across water quality and hazard mitigation programs. Modules in this series can be used as training tools to help planners from both worlds explore activities of mutual interest and benefit. Case studies and examples are provided to assist hazard mitigation planners with integrating water resource programs into HMPs and help watershed planners understand the synergies between water resource plans and HMPs.
Begin the course here.
Kentucky Water Research Institute KENTUCKY MS4 TRAINING PROGRAM
The design of the proposed training program promotes resource accessibility, knowledge retention, and content adaptability. Specifically, the program focuses on addressing the need for a cohesive, standardized structure for complying with specific Minimum Control Measures (MCMs) related to priority pollutants (i.e., nutrients, sediment, bacteria) and pollutant load reduction within MS4 programs throughout Kentucky.
Learn more here.
NWS Louisville Online Skywarn Training
Self-Guided Online Modules
NWS Louisville has developed an online version of its Skywarn Spotter Training, tailored to the unique challenges of severe storm spotting in the Ohio Valley. There are 4 video modules, with a quiz covering each module. The quizzes must be completed in order because you’ll need the code word that you get for completing one in order to access the next.
Once you’ve reviewed each module, complete the quiz. You will receive an e-mail with your results shortly after you complete the quiz. If you answer ALL questions correctly, your e-mail will include the code word that you will need to access the next quiz.
After all 4 quizzes are successfully completed, you’ll receive a link to register in the NWS Louisville spotter database.
Community Rating System Webinars
The CRS Webinar Series provides both live and on-demand training to communities. The Series includes basic introductory sessions and more advanced topics, mostly averaging about an hour in length.
For topics, dates, and registration, link to CRS Training and Webinars
FEMA Releases New Independent Study Course:
Preparing the Nation for Space Weather Events
Space weather – winds and magnetic waves that move through space – can sometimes reach Earth or Earth’s upper atmosphere. When this happens, space weather can adversely affect critical technological systems like satellite-based positioning and navigation, high frequency radio communications, and the electric power grid.
Much of the space weather that reaches Earth is generated by our sun, which goes through solar cycles that are about 11 years long. Each cycle is marked by a solar maximum and a solar minimum. At the solar maximum, the sun’s activity peaks, and sun’s magnetic poles reverse. This peak can be measured by the number of sunspots observed on the sun’s surface. This is followed by a solar minimum when the sun is least active, which marks the beginning of the next solar cycle.
We are now in Solar Cycle 25. Solar maximum is expected in July 2025, with a peak of 115 sunspots. Solar cycle prediction gives a rough idea of the frequency of space weather storms of all types, from radio blackouts to geomagnetic storms and solar radiation storms. It is used by many industries to gauge the potential impact of space weather in the coming years. Because space weather has the potential to significantly disrupt critical infrastructure, emergency preparedness for space weather events is important. FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI) recently launched a new online course: IS-66: Preparing the Nation for Space Weather Events.
This 2-hour independent study course is appropriate for emergency managers at all levels. It covers:
- The types of events that present potential dangers.
- The types of systems that may experience disruptions.
- Case studies with examples of historical space weather events and their impacts.
- Information on the activities and analysis that go into developing and producing Space Weather Forecast products. The course builds on FEMA’s 2019 Federal Operating Concept for Impending Space Weather Events , a 65-page guide supporting the National Space Weather Strategy and Action Plan, which was released by the White House in 2019. The 2019 FEMA guide is intended to be used in the development of operational plans to prepare for, protect against, and mitigate the effects of impending space weather events.
After completing this course, emergency managers will better understand how to identify risks to their organization, implement mitigation actions and develop contingency operating plans in the event of a disruptive space weather event.
Tapping into Federal Funding: Leveraging HUD Loans for Innovative Water Infrastructure Investments
Webinar and Materials are posted on the Leveraging HUD Loans for Innovative Water Infrastructure Investments Webinar page.
Part of WaterNow’s ongoing Tap into Resilience series, this webinar explored how local leaders can leverage HUD loans for innovative water infrastructure investments. WaterNow’s Tap into Resilience initiative provides water leaders the resources they need to invest in affordable, climate resilient solutions to meet a broad range of water management challenges.
This webinar featured one of these investment options – HUD’s Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program. This federal loan program can be used to address community resilience projects aimed at benefiting low- and moderate-income communities and for organizations looking to improve water systems. Eligible projects include waterfront fortification, green infrastructure improvements, and water infrastructure improvements.
Affordable Resilience in the Built Environment
US building codes remain fragmented with no federal standards. States can voluntarily adopt model codes, whenever and with whatever edits they wish. These codes are generally set at life safety ‘escape’ rather than asset preservation ‘resilience’ levels. This webinar from Florida International University’s Institute for Resilient and Sustainable Coastal Infrastructure examines resilience affordability and explains why high resilience has the lowest cost to society.
HEC-HMS USACE HH&C CoP Webinar Series
The USACE Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC) is hosting quarterly demonstration webinars about the HEC-HMS model. Webinars are recorded and posted on the USACE Hydrologic Engineering Center’s website.
FEMA Offers Virtual Public Assistance Training
FEMA is making it easier for state and local government partners to create accounts and apply for Public Assistance. To help familiarize partners with these changes, there are now remote training tools available, including YouTube videos and independent study courses online. The videos help guide viewers through how to establish an account, file a Request for Public Assistance, submit streamlined applications and follow other steps in the application process. The independent study courses, hosted by the Emergency Management Institute, provide an overview to the program, application process and the Grants Portal platform.
Hazard Mitigation Funding
FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Grants
The Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) program provides grant funding for communities looking to protect against losses from disasters, and in advance of disasters. The HMA Division’s vision is to be a driver for resilience through partnerships and mitigation investments with states, tribes, territories and local governments. The program’s mission is to design, build and nurture high-performing teams that promote and deliver risk reduction programs.
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP): The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides funding to state, local, tribal and territorial governments so they can develop hazard mitigation plans and rebuild in a way that reduces, or mitigates, future disaster losses in their communities. This grant funding is available after a presidentially declared disaster.
Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA): Flood Mitigation Assistance funds are used for projects that reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings insured by the National Flood Insurance Program.
Flood Mitigation Assistance Swift Current: The Swift Current effort provides funding to mitigate buildings insured through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) after a major disaster declaration following a flood-related disaster event to reduce risk against future flood damage.
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Post-Fire: Wildfires can destroy homes, businesses, infrastructure, natural resources, and agriculture. They can also increase secondary hazards and leave areas prone to floods, erosion, and mudflows for many years. FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) has Post Fire assistance available to help communities implement hazard mitigation measures after wildfire disasters.
National Dam Safety Program: Provides vital support in the form of funding, technical assistance, and research for states and territories with enacted dam safety programs. FEMA has two annual funding opportunities; the Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams grant program and the National Dam Safety State Assistance Grant program.
Benefit Cost Analysis
In accordance with authorizing statutes, only cost-effective hazard mitigation measures are eligible for potential funding from FEMA. FEMA has specified minimum project criteria via regulation and policy and requires applicants and subapplicants to demonstrate that hazard mitigation projects are cost-effective.
FEMA developed several methodologies that applicants and subapplicants may use to demonstrate cost effectiveness in accordance with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-94[EW23] , Guidelines and Discount Rates for Benefit-Cost Analysis of Federal Programs (Oct. 29, 1992).
FEMA generally assesses the cost effectiveness of hazard mitigation projects through a Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA),a quantitative analysis used to assess the cost effectiveness of a hazard mitigation measure by comparing the project’s avoided future damages (benefits) to the costs over the project lifetime. The result is a Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR), which is the numerical expression of the cost effectiveness of a project calculated as the net present value of total project benefits divided by the net present value of total project costs. A project is generally considered to be cost-effective when the BCR is 1.0 or greater, indicating the benefits of a prospective hazard mitigation project are sufficient to justify the costs.
FEMA created the BCA Toolkit to help applicants perform benefit-cost analyses in accordance with OMB’s guidelines. Through the development of the BCA Toolkit, FEMA created a standardized methodology that is specific to hazard mitigation activities and provides consistency across applicants and subapplicants. Methodologies for cost-effectiveness determination methods and standard values will be documented and made publicly available on FEMA’s Benefit-Cost Analysis webpage.
In addition to the BCA Toolkit, FEMA provides several streamlined methodologies that applicants and subapplicants may use to demonstrate cost effectiveness. While FEMA encourages the use of the BCA Toolkit, applicants and subapplicants may also use a non-FEMA BCA methodology if pre-approved by FEMA in writing.
For Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and FMA Swift Current, additional information on demonstrating cost effectiveness may be found in the appropriate year’s Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). These funding opportunities are available on Grants.gov.
KAMM’s Mitigation Funding Examples and Resources information document
Kentucky Firewise Community Grants
The Firewise Community grant program provides funding to assist communities in wildland/urban interface areas in reducing their wildfire risk. Grants may be awarded for projects to reduce the risk of wildfire and/or hazard in Kentucky’s wildland/urban interface communities. Grant priority will be given based on community-at-risk level, establishment of a local Firewise USA™ Community, and type of project submitted.
KAMM’s Funding Green Infrastructure Projects information document contains funding resources for various hazard mitigation projects.
How to Apply for Grants
Grants.gov
Center for Disaster Philanthropy | Grantmaking Process
CDBG-DR Active Disaster Grants | HUD Exchange
Economic Development Administration | Funding Opportunities
EPA Clean Water State Revolving Fund
EPA Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
HHS Funding Opportunities
NOAA Funding Opportunities
Rural Development (USDA) Programs
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Assistance Program
The SBA provides affordable assistance to disaster victims and long-term recovery assistance in the form of low-interest loans to homeowners, renters, and private non-profit organizations. SBA works with FEMA in declared areas to ensure that affected individuals and businesses are aware of disaster program opportunities.
SBA disaster loans can be used for:
· Losses not covered by insurance or funding from FEMA for both personal and business
· Business operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred
Physical Damage Loans: Loans to cover repairs and replacement of physical assets damaged in a declared disaster.
Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Funding to cover small business operating expenses after a declared disaster.
Mitigation Assistance: Expanded funding to make improvements to eliminate future damage.
Military Reservist Loans: SBA provides loans to help eligible small businesses with operating expenses to make up for employees on active-duty leave.
Mitigation Matters!
Have questions? Contact us at help@kymitigation.org.
KAMM mailing address: KAMM, PO Box 1016, Frankfort, KY 40602-1016
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KAMM is a non-profit 501 (c) (3).