Letter of Interest template for Tropical Storm Hanna (FEMA-1801-DR)

North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) administers several programs to support the vision of reducing the impacts of natural hazards on homes, businesses, and communities throughout the State.

These programs include the federally-funded Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program, Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program, Repetitive Flood Claims (RFC) program, and Severe Repetitive Loss (SLR) pilot program. Please note that detailed and up-to-date information for each can be found on the mitigation pages of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) website.

Eligibility for funding under these federal programs is limited to state and local governments, certain private nonprofit organizations or institutions that serve a public function, Indian tribes and authorized tribal organizations. These organizations must apply for project funding on behalf of their citizens. In turn, applicants must work through their state since the state is responsible for setting priorities for funding and administering the program. Please visit FEMA's website for descriptions of program-specific eligibility requirements.

NCEM also administers mitigation projects under the auspices of the State-funded Hurricane Recovery Act of 2005, which was created after North Carolina endured impacts from six hurricanes/tropical storms in 2004.

Please note that for all of these mitigation programs, NCEM works closely with local officials and their consultants to provide Technical Assistance. This assistance includes face-to-face project implementation meetings and site visits, as well as the dissemination of pertinent policy memos and Standard Operation Procedures.

The following are brief summaries of the mitigation-oriented grant programs that NCEM administrates:

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) assists states and local communities in implementing long-term mitigation measures following a Presidential Disaster Declaration.

To meet these objectives, FEMA can fund up to 75 percent of the eligible costs of each project. The state or local cost-share match does not need to be cash; in kind services or materials may also be used. Federal funding under the HMGP is based on 15 percent of the federal funds spent on the Public and Individual Assistance programs (minus administrative expenses) for each disaster declaration.

The HMGP can be used to fund projects to protect either public or private property so long as the projects in question fit within the State and local government's overall mitigation strategy (e.g. local mitigation plans) for the disaster area. The project must also comply with program guidelines. Eligible activities under the HMGP include the acquisition or relocation of structures from hazard-prone areas, the retrofitting of existing structures, and the development of state or local standards designed to protect buildings from future damages. (Source: FEMA)

Click on these links to learn more:

HMGP from FEMA. 

HMGP funding 

HMGP Process

Open Space Management

Project Development

Project Implementation.

Please note that the following federally-funded programs are not based on specific disaster events. Grants are instead awarded on an annual basis. The State of North Carolina does not provide matching funding for these programs at the present time.

Flood Mitigation Assistance

The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program seeks to implement cost-effective measures that reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to buildings, manufactured homes, and other structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program. Eligible activities under the FMA include acquisition, structure demolition, or structure relocation with the property deed restricted for open space uses in perpetuity. In addition, the elevation of structures, dry floodproofing of non-residential structures, and minor structural flood control activities are also eligible. Please note that all properties must be insured at the time of application. (Source: FEMA)

Click here to learn more about the FMA program from FEMA.

Pre-Disaster Mitigation

The Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program seeks to provide funds for hazard mitigation planning and the implementation of mitigation projects prior to a disaster event. Funding these plans and projects reduces overall risks to the population and structures, while also reducing reliance on funding from actual disaster declarations.

Eligible activities under the PDM program include: voluntary acquisition of real property (i.e. structures and land, where necessary) for open space conversion; relocation of public or private structures; elevation of existing public or private structures to avoid flooding; structural and non-structural retrofitting (e.g., storm shutters, hurricane clips, bracing systems) of existing public or private structures to meet/exceed applicable building codes; construction of safe rooms (tornado and severe wind shelters) for public and private structures that meet FEMA requirements; hydrologic and hydraulic studies/analyses, engineering studies and drainage studies for the purpose of project design and feasibility determination directly related to the proposed project; and vegetation management for natural dune restoration, wildfire, or snow avalanche. (Source: FEMA)

Click here to learn more about the PDM program from FEMA.

Repetitive Flood Claims

The Repetitive Flood Claims (RFC) program seeks to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program that have had one or more claim payment(s) for flood damages. Eligible activities include acquisition, structure demolition, or structure relocation with the property deed restricted for open space uses in perpetuity. (Source: FEMA)

Click here to learn more about the RFC program from FEMA.

Severe Repetitive Loss Pilot Program

The Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) Pilot Program seeks to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to severe repetitive loss residential properties and associated drain on the National Flood Insurance Fund (NFIF) from such properties. Eligible activities include: acquisition, structure demolition, or structure relocation with the property deed restricted for open space uses in perpetuity; elevation of structures; dry floodproofing of historic structures; minor physical localized flood control projects; and mitigation reconstruction (e.g. the demolition and rebuilding of structures). Please note that all properties must be insured at the time of application. (Source: FEMA)

Click here to learn more about the SRL Pilot Program from FEMA. 

Please note that the following program is funded by the State of North Carolina:

Hurricane Recovery Act of 2005

In 2004, North Carolina suffered from the impacts of six hurricanes and tropical storms. Ivan and Frances affected the western part of the State, and Alex, Bonnie, Charlie, and Jeanne affected the east—including the coast and Sandhills. In response, the General Assembly of North Carolina signed into law the Hurricane Recovery Act of 2005 to provide mitigation and recovery assistance to the impacted counties of Western NC.

As part of the Hurricane Recovery Act, NCEM has collaborated with local jurisdictions on a variety of mitigation activities—including acquisition, elevation, and infrastructure projects. Many of these projects are already complete, and others are still in the implementation phase.

Please direct questions about mitigation activities under the Hurricane Recovery Act of 2005 to NCEM's Hazard Mitigation Unit at (919) 715-8000 x225.

« this page last modified 04/19/10 »