HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM
HMGP
As the result of a Presidential Disaster Declaration, FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds plans and projects that reduce the effects of future natural disasters. In California, these funds are administered by the Cal OES Hazard Mitigation Assistance Branch.
The HMGP funding opportunities provide support for communities to implement mitigation activities to reduce risk to life and property from natural hazards. In California, natural hazards include wildfire, earthquake, drought, extreme weather, flooding, and other natural hazards as defined in the State Hazard Mitigation Plan. HMGP funding can also support the development of Local Hazard Mitigation Plans (LHMPs), and project scoping activities referred to as Advanced Assistance.
HMGP Subapplication Process
- Eligible Subapplicants
- Completing a Notice of Interest (NOI)
- Subapplication Development
- Resources & Technical Assistance
State Agencies – Activities must be consistent with the State Hazard Mitigation Plan (SHMP). State agencies, UCs, and CSUs must comply with the Hazard Mitigation Plan requirement, which is satisfied with an active SHMP.
Federally Recognized Tribes – Subapplicants must have a FEMA-approved Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan (THMP) to be eligible.
Local Governments/Communities/Special Districts – Subapplicants must have a FEMA-approved Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) to be eligible.
Private non-profit Organizations – Private non-profit Organizations are not required to have an LHMP, but the County or city in which the project is located must meet the LHMP requirement.
Eligible Subapplicants from all 58 counties may apply. Jurisdictions do not need to be from a declared county to apply for HMGP funding.
If you are thinking about applying for HMGP Post-Fire, please visit our Developing a Subapplication page to learn about the subapplication components or to request a call with the Technical Assistance team.
When you are ready to apply, please complete an NOI, due to Cal OES via the Engage Portal. Access the Engage CalOES Portal to log in and complete your Notice of Interest. You will need to create an account if you do not already have one.
Please utilize the NOI User Guide for help creating an account and for a preview of the NOI questions. Recommend that you open these links in a new tab.
Subapplicants interested in HMGP must submit a Notice of Interest (NOI) via the Cal OES Engage Portal before submitting a subapplication. All NOIs must be submitted by the posted deadline. NOIs submitted after this date will be considered for the next available funding opportunity.
Cal OES will review NOIs for eligibility and then invite subapplicants with eligible projects to submit full grant subapplications, via the Engage portal. Cal OES will review all subapplications and submit projects to FEMA per the State’s priorities. Cal OES will retain eligible subapplications that are not initially selected for submission to FEMA for future consideration when funding becomes available. FEMA will then review the submitted applications for programmatic and environmental and historic preservation (EHP) compliance before obligating funds. Follow the Grant Opportunities link to view funding opportunities.
The Hazard Mitigation Resource Library contains Job Aids, templates, and links to external resources to guide you through the NOI and subapplication process. Our subject matter experts are available to discuss project eligibility, benefit cost analysis, technical feasibility, EHP requirements, the application process, or other related matters. To contact the Technical Assistance team, please book a meeting here. We can discuss funding availability, project eligibility, and potential mitigation actions.
Projects must be eligible, feasible, and cost-effective per FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance Guidance. Projects must be stand-alone activities that will reduce risk as their primary benefit, but Cal OES strongly encourages the submission of projects that achieve multiple benefits.
FAQ
What are the Hazard Mitigation Plan requirements for HMGP?
Entities are required to have or be a recognized annex of a federally approved, locally adopted Hazard Mitigation Plan. If your entity does not currently participate in a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP), please visit our Local Mitigation Planning page for information about the process.
Are there match fund requirements?
Federal funding is available for 75% of project costs, with the other 25% being matched by your jurisdiction. This is a reimbursement-based program, meaning your organization incurs the costs initially.
When is funding made available?
After a disaster meets a certain damage threshold, the president authorizes a disaster declaration and opens federal funding. This means there may be multiple open funding opportunities per year. Please navigate to our Grant Opportunities page to view open funding opportunities.
What activities are eligible under HMGP?
HMGP funds a broad range of hazard mitigation activities. Available funding is broken into 3 main categories: 7% for Planning-related projects, 5% initiatives, and the rest for Construction Projects. Projects are evaluated based on the Federal Disaster Declaration funding opportunity’s Notice of Funding Opportunity funding priorities for the State of California.
How much funding is made available? Is there a ceiling for project costs?
The funding made available under each Federal Disaster Declaration is dependent on the damages estimates for the trigger event. In 2024, CalOES prioritized projects under $5 million dollars due to a relatively small pool of available funding.
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