Texas Department of Public Safety 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 Federal Assistance to Individuals and Households Public Assistance Hazard Mitigation Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) Provides Funding For FEMA:

Texas Department of Public Safety FEMA & State Mitigation Grant Programs FY 2014 Flood Protection Planning Flood Mitigation Assistance Texas Water Development Board Texas Division of Emergency Management Pre- Disaster Mitigation Hazard Mitigation Grant Program FLOOD GRANTS ALL HAZARD GRANTS

Texas Department of Public Safety Congressional Focus 1. Financial Responsibility 2. Expedite Program Activity 3. Idle funding 4. Controversial Projects 5. 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 – 99 presidential, 29 emergency (47 states), 114 F-MAG’s – $7.5 billion – 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 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 SFM TOOL FEMA SPEND PLAN

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 1.The Federal fiscal year begins in October 2.DRF – Immediate Needs Funding (INF) Emergency operations only SPEND PLAN IMPACTS

Texas Department of Public Safety Project application budgets: Estimate OUT - documentation is in – EXPECT HIGHER SCRUTINY Vocabulary matters!!!! Application continuity More specific Pre-Award breakdowns Cost overruns more difficult COST BREAKDOWN REVIEW

Texas Department of Public Safety 1.Money on the street faster 2.Shorten the review process 3.Shorter Period of Performance 2. CONGRESS WANTS EXPEDITED PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

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 Complete well documented applications Higher level of sub-recipient monitoring on POP Closer monitoring of approved cost line items SUB-APPLICANT ACTIVITIES

Texas Department of Public Safety 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 3. IDLE FUNDING

Texas Department of Public Safety Protect Congress from black- eyes Updates to FEMA 361 The most restrictive interpretation of regulation and guidance Additional OMB review at LPN 4. Controversy

Texas Department of Public Safety 5. Justification FEMA wants proof that all projects are effective in every way Congress wants program justification

Texas Department of Public Safety Every number and statement must have acceptable supporting documentation! Justification

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 + sub- applicant + FEMA must become a TEAM to be successful!

Texas Department of Public Safety QUESTIONS? Hildy Soper Texas Division of Emergency Management Mitigation Officer (512)