Wildfire recovery funding available
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently announced the availability of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding to support wildfire recovery in areas subject to fire management assistance declarations from Oct. 1, 2016, through Sept. 30, 2018. State and tribal governments may apply for the funding. Currently, 85 events in 19 states are eligible for HMGP post fire grants. A map of fire management assistance declarations is available here. Additional information regarding the post fire grants is available here.
The funding is to support risk reduction of any hazard, including defensible space measures, ignition-resistant construction and hazardous fuels reduction. The International Code Council has confirmed with FEMA that a portion of the grant funding may be used for post-disaster code enforcement as well as costs associated with adopting the latest International Codes.
FEMA has sent a formal funding notification letter to each eligible applicant, which will have six months from the date of the funding notification letter to apply for funds. Two 90-day extensions may be requested. An eligible applicant must have a FEMA-approved mitigation plan in order to receive HMGP post fire grant funding.
Funding assistance for a fire management assistance declaration is determined by the type of hazard mitigation plan approved for each state, territory or tribe and the number of declarations that have occurred during the two fiscal years. For a standard hazard mitigation plan, the total amount available is $425,008 for each declaration. For an enhanced plan, the total amount available is $566,667 per declaration.
About the Author
Gabe Maser is the vice president of government relations and national strategy for the International Code Council, where he manages and directs its federal and national policy and legislative priorities agenda, and maintains and enhances the Code Council’s advocacy presence in Washington, D.C. Maser brings an extensive background in government relations and federal policy to his role at the Code Council. Most recently, he served as a regional director for market expansion and policy at Renovate America. Previously, he worked as the director of federal-state relations for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a legislative assistant for a member of Congress and an associate at Baker Botts L.L.P. Maser has a bachelor’s degree in biology from McGill University and a juris doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center. He is a licensed lawyer in the District of Columbia and Massachusetts.
