Hazard Mitigation Grant Program - Round 2

Vermont Emergency Management is now accepting HMGP grant applications from towns and agencies in all Vermont counties in connection with the most recent declared disaster. The HMGP grant program is funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is administered by Vermont Emergency Management. Federal funds are available to cover up to 75% of project costs; however, please note that there is a 25% local match requirement.

We encourage you to identify potential hazard mitigation sites in areas within your jurisdiction and apply for funds under the HMGP grant program. Typical hazard mitigation projects include the following: repair and mitigation of local roads or bridges that are regularly flooded, replacement of undersized culverts, remediation of stream bank erosion, appropriate road ditching, acquisition (buy-out) of damaged homes in the designated floodway, etc. Your project proposal need not be directly connected to the most recent declared disaster. If you have a larger project (i.e. greater than $200,000 in total cost), you may also consider applying for a grant under FEMA’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation competitive (PDM-C) program which is open to all Vermont communities and which provides greater funding levels.

You may download the HMGP application from Vermont Emergency Management’s website at www.dps.state.vt.us/vem or contact the State Hazard Mitigation Officer for an application. You may also review the project selection review criteria on our agency’s website.

Please note the following FEMA eligibility requirements:

1) Communities must have a FEMA approved and adopted Local Mitigation Plan no later than the date the grant funds are awarded
2) Communities must be participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), if a special flood hazard area has been identified in the community
3) The application must be completed in full, including: maps, list of alternative proposals, engineering plans, hydrology studies (if needed) and a full benefit-cost analysis (BCA).

The application may be downloaded from VEM’s website at the Mitigation tab. On VEM’s website, go to the Mitigation tab on the left-hand side, and then to mitigation forms where you can download the application. Some assistance is available from the State Hazard Mitigation Officer for those needing help completing the benefit-cost analysis requirement; some application assistance may also be provided through Vermont Emergency Management.

Deadline for all HMGP applications:

Close of business on Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Applications submitted past the deadline will not be accepted.


If you wish to apply for an HMGP grant, please submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to Vermont Emergency Management no later than Monday, June 15, 2009. The Letter of Intent should include a brief description of your proposal, the project location and the total estimated cost of your project.

Please submit completed Letters of Intent, HMGP application, benefit-cost analyses and supporting documentation to:

Ray Doherty, State Hazard Mitigation Officer
Vermont Emergency Management
103 South Main Street
Waterbury, VT 05671
Tel (802) 241-5258
FAX (802) 241-5556
rdoherty@dps.state.vt.us

HMGP funds are awarded on a competitive basis and all applications are subject to review and selection by the state mitigation project selection committee and FEMA. Announcements will be made soon regarding upcoming workshop sessions in the fall pertaining to application development and benefit-cost analysis.

If your town does not have a FEMA approved and locally adopted Pre Disaster Mitigation Plan please contact Clare Rock at the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission for assistance. Email clarerock@cvregion.com or call 229.0389.