First State Times

SMYRNA, Del. — The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) is seeking applicants to submit projects for potential funding under the following mitigation grant programs: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant Program (BRIC), and the Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program (FMA).

Applications are being accepted now and all projects must be submitted to DEMA no later than December 31, 2022.

^{Historic rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Ida in 2021 caused the Brandywine Creek to flood areas of downtown Wilmington. Mitigation grant programs are now available for projects that can help address the impact of future disasters in Delaware.}

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants include certain private non-profit organizations, local governments, state agencies and tribal/territorial governments. Individual homeowners should reach out to their local county emergency management agencies to be considered for mitigation projects.

What do the grants do?

Mitigation grants fund sustainable actions that may reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from future disasters while building overall resiliency.

There are three major grant programs:

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) is intended to assist eligible applicants in implementing long-term hazard mitigation planning and projects. Eligible projects include home elevations, acquisition of hazard-prone homes and businesses, flood protection, retrofitting, and slope stabilization projects.

The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant Program (BRIC) assists eligible applicants in implementing pre-disaster natural hazard mitigation projects by awarding planning and project grants to mitigate future damage before disaster strikes.

The Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program (FMA) is a competitive grant program that provides funding to eligible applicants for projects that reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings insured by the National Flood Insurance Program. All eligible projects must be submitted through sub-applicants, or state and local governments, for both the BRIC and FMA grant programs.

How will projects be selected?

Selection of eligible projects begins with a state-level review of all pre-application materials for suitability. Following the initial pre-application review, DEMA’s mitigation staff will determine which projects meet eligible criteria for potential mitigation project grant funding. Successful projects will also address and support one or more of FEMA’s seven “Community Lifelines”:

1.  Safety and Security
2.  Health and Medical
3.  Communications
4.  Hazardous Materials
5.  Food, Water, and Shelter
6.  Energy (Power & Fuel)
7.  Transportation.

*  For additional information about Mitigation in general, visit the FEMA Mitigation website.

*  For a comprehensive overview of program objectives and case studies of previous projects that have received funding, read the:

FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance “Mitigation Action Portfolio” (PDF).

*  If your organization wishes to apply for HMGP, BRIC, or FMA funding, please contact Delaware’s State Hazard Mitigation Officer (SHMO):

Phillip Cane at 302-659-2325 or phillip.cane@delaware.gov.

Original source can be found here.