WHAT’S NEW
IN
MITIGATION
BIG CHANGES in the
FEMA HMA Grant
Programs
Texas Department of Public Safety
Biggert-Waters
Reducing insurance subsidies on
National Floodplain Insurance
Program (NFIP) policies with higher
risks
Combine SRL and RFC grant programs
into FMA
For HMGP - Only projects in the
Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)
require NFIP participation – no change
Texas Department of Public Safety
Sandy Recovery Improvement
Act of 2013 (SRIA)
Signed by the President in January
2013
Designed to speed up, streamline,
and reduce the cost of Federal
disaster recovery programs.
Texas Department of Public Safety
Disaster Relief Fund (DRF)
Provides Funding For FEMA:
• Federal Assistance to Individuals
and Households
• Public Assistance
• Hazard Mitigation
• Fire Management Assistance Grants
(FMAGs)
Texas Department of Public Safety
FEMA & State Mitigation
Grant Programs
FY 2014
Texas Water
Development
Board
Texas
Division of
Emergency
Management
FLOOD
GRANTS
ALL
HAZARD
GRANTS
Texas Department of Public Safety
Flood
Mitigation
Assistance
Hazard
Mitigation
Grant
Program
Flood
Protection
Planning
PreDisaster
Mitigation
Congressional Focus
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Financial Responsibility
Expedite Program Activity
Idle funding
Controversial Projects
Justification of the Program
Texas Department of Public Safety
CONGRESSIONAL ISSUES
AND FEMA ISSUES –
ARE YOUR ISSUES
BECAUSE….
YOUR FUNDING DEPENDS
ON FEMA APPROVAL!!!
Texas Department of Public Safety
FACT - Disasters are becoming
more frequent and costly
1. 2011 – 99 presidential, 29 emergency (47
states), 114 F-MAG’s – $7.5 billion
2. 2012 – Sandy alone – 11 states – over
$2.2 billion so far
3. Money is tight and must address this
demand
Texas Department of Public Safety
Congressional
Direction to FEMA
Here is the
money this
time --- BUT FOCUS ON
OUR ISSUES
Texas Department of Public Safety
FEMA GOT BUSY
Texas Department of Public Safety
New FEMA Attitude
JUSTIFY
THE
PROGRAM
TO
CONGRESS
Texas Department of Public Safety
1. FINANCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY
FEMA DEVELOPS A
MONETARY CONTROL
PROCESS –
STRATEGIC FUNDS
MANAGEMENT (SFM)
Texas Department of Public Safety
SFM TOOL
FEMA SPEND PLAN
Monthly estimate of required funding
planned a year in advance for:
• New grant approvals
• Cost overruns
NOTE: the spend plan also provides
funding obligations in smaller
increments on LARGER projects
Texas Department of Public Safety
THE FEMA SPEND PLAN
FEMA National is
already requiring
justification for
failure to meet
the monthly
spend plan
Texas Department of Public Safety
SPEND PLAN IMPACTS
1. The Federal fiscal year begins in
October
2. DRF – Immediate Needs Funding
(INF) Emergency operations only
Texas Department of Public Safety
COST BREAKDOWN REVIEW
Project application budgets:
• Estimate OUT - documentation is in –
EXPECT HIGHER SCRUTINY
• Vocabulary matters!!!!
• Application continuity
• More specific Pre-Award breakdowns
• Cost overruns more difficult
Texas Department of Public Safety
2. CONGRESS WANTS
EXPEDITED PROGRAM
ACTIVITIES
1. Money on the street faster
2. Shorten the review process
3. Shorter Period of Performance
Texas Department of Public Safety
NEW RFI GUIDANCE
FEMA RFI Deadlines:
• Mitigation specialist – 30 day
• Branch Chief – 15 day
• Regional Administrator – 30
day
• Denial -> Appeal
Texas Department of Public Safety
SUB-APPLICANT ACTIVITIES
• Complete well documented
applications
• Higher level of sub-recipient
monitoring on POP
• Closer monitoring of
approved cost line items
Texas Department of Public Safety
3. IDLE FUNDING
• FY 2011 FEMA began an aggressive
recovery of “idle” funds
• Be prepared to implement your
project or loose your funding
• Faster closeouts of old disasters
Texas Department of Public Safety
4. Controversy
• Protect Congress from blackeyes
• Updates to FEMA 361
• The most restrictive
interpretation of regulation and
guidance
• Additional OMB review at LPN
Texas Department of Public Safety
5. Justification
Congress wants program
justification
FEMA wants proof that all
projects are effective in
every way
Texas Department of Public Safety
Justification
Every number and
statement must
have acceptable
supporting
documentation!
Texas Department of Public Safety
HMGP Generator Changes
• Stand alone REGULAR projects if
protecting a critical facility
• Portable generators become
eligible under 5% (HMGP only)
Texas Department of Public Safety
Planning Grant Changes
Mitigation Planning Grants:
• Mitigation Plan
• Related planning activities
Texas Department of Public Safety
BCA
• FEMA module
• Standard values
• Benefit cost analysis now allows
aggregated benefits from
multiple activities and hazards.
Texas Department of Public Safety
Engineering Changes
Streamlining – engineering
designs certified by Registered
Professional Engineers as meeting
an identified code satisfy
engineering and technical
feasibility issues
Texas Department of Public Safety
Acquisition Changes
• Ineligible projects now include the
acquisition of unimproved land
• CBRA and OPA are now eligible in
HMGP
• BCA’s of .75 can now add
environmental and riparian benefits
• Pre-market or current market value
at applicants discretion
Texas Department of Public Safety
POP Changes
This is HUGE!
FEMA can set POP for annual
grants (2013 PDM – 24 months)
HMGP is 36 months from
application deadline
Texas Department of Public Safety
SUMMARY
BIG changes in:
•Program intensity
•Project quality
•Documentation
•Timelines
•Funding oversight
Texas Department of Public Safety
TDEM + TWDB + subapplicant + FEMA
must become a TEAM
to be successful!
Texas Department of Public Safety
QUESTIONS?
Hildy Soper
Texas Division of Emergency Management
Mitigation Officer
(512) 424-2454
hildy.soper@dps.texas.gov
Texas Department of Public Safety