The Flood Mitigation Assistance program (FMA) is a cost-share program (75% federal, 25% local match) through which communities can receive grants for
the development of a comprehensive flood mitigation plan and the implementation of flood mitigation projects. Communities must belong to the National
Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to receive FMA funds.
The overall goal of FMA is to fund cost-effective measures that reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to NFIP-insured buildings,
manufactured homes and other structures. Other goals are to: Reduce the number of repetitively or substantially damaged structures and the associated claims
on the NFIP; encourage long-term, comprehensive mitigation planning; respond to the needs of communities participating in the NFIP; and complement other
federal and state mitigation programs with similar goals.
There are two types of FMA grants available: planning grants and project grants. The funds allocated to the state are based on the number of flood
insurance policies in place statewide as well as the number of identified repetitive loss properties. A repetitive loss property is any insured structure
that has two or more flood insurance claims of at least $1,000 each.
To receive a FMA project grant a community must have an approved hazard mitigation plan. Typically, funded FMA projects are for the acquisition and
demolition of repetitively flooded structures insured by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).