FEMA Extends HMGP Application Period to 15 Months
FEMA has updated its regulations to extend the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program’s application period from 12 months to 15 months. This revision to one of the agency’s largest grant programs will ensure applicants have additional time to submit quality applications meant to address the effects of climate change and other unmet community mitigation needs.
“This change makes valuable resilience grant funding more accessible and is a result of us listening directly to local, state, tribal and territorial governments around the nation,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said in a press release. “We understood that barriers existed for our partners accessing HMGP dollars while they were also working to recover from devastating climate events. These changes will reduce these barriers and empower communities to access even more critical resiliency funding so they can become more resilient to the climate crisis.”
The final rule has four changes that FEMA is implementing. It became effective upon publication in the Federal Register on Aug. 15, 2024.
In addition to increasing the initial application period from 12 to 15 month, FEMA increased its flexibility to provide extensions of the initial application period as follows:
- If an applicant needs more time to submit applications, FEMA increased the amount of time to request extensions from 180 days to 240 days. This approval is granted at the FEMA regional level and can be in 30 to 120-day increments.
- If an applicant needs more time beyond 240 days based on extenuating circumstances beyond their control, they can request additional time. FEMA will consider these requests on a case-by-case basis.
The fourth change with the final rule also gives the agency the option to re-open closed application periods to allow applicants to maximize the use of HMGP funding. This change is a response to comments FEMA received about the length of the application period and the inability to re-open the application period. This will give underserved communities — often those who face the largest barrier in accessing HMGP — more time to complete quality applications and meet FEMA eligibility criteria.
FEMA will consider re-opening the application periods and determine the lengths of these extensions upon receipt and evaluation of each request’s circumstances.
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides funding to state, local, tribal and territorial governments so they can rebuild in a way that reduces disaster losses in their communities from events like extreme heat, wildfires, drought, hurricanes, earthquakes and flooding. This time-limited grant funding is available after a Presidentially declared disaster. Following such a declaration, a percentage of total expenditures on disaster relief — primarily Public Assistance and Individual Assistance — are made available for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. This rule applies to awards made under major disaster declarations declared on or after Aug. 15, 2024. It does not apply to the HMGP Post Fire program. For applications related to the HMGP Post Fire program, applicants should refer to the 2024 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program and Policy Guide
