All Concerned,

This is to inform you of the amount of funding through the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program that will be available to the State of Louisiana for fiscal year 2006.  Attached is the FY06 guidance for the FMA Program.  Please review this guidance carefully before preparing applications.  The breakdown of the FY06 FMA projected allocations are as follows:

FY06 Planning Grants:                                   $246,800
FY06 Project Grants:                                      $2,495,700

For a community to be eligible for a project grant, they must have a Flood Mitigation Plan approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  For communities in the Community Rating System (CRS), the CRS plan may meet this planning requirement with little or no modification.  A copy of the flood mitigation plan or CRS plan must be submitted with every project application.  

As stated in the enclosed FY06 FMA program guidance, the State will prioritize the use of FMA planning, and project funds toward reducing the number of repetitive loss structures insured by the NFIP.  More specifically, the emphasis is on addressing target repetitive loss properties identified in the Agency’s Repetitive Loss Strategy.  Although the use of FMA funds is no longer required to be used only for repetitive loss structures, it is still encouraged because of our high repetitive loss properties.  You may also wish to consider minor drainage projects in Special Flood Hazard Areas that could help alleviate flooding and remove structures from the floodplain.  I have often found this use of FMA funds helps remove a higher number of structures from harms way, does not checker-board a neighborhood like elevations and acquisitions and keeps the communities tax base intact while reducing claims to the NFIP.  If a minor drainage project is of interest to a community, please let me know as FEMA often has funds set aside to help offset the cost of the environmental review.

As a reminder, applications may be submitted at any time throughout the fiscal year.  We request that you begin to prepare applications for planning and project grants and forward your applications, project narratives, and all required financial forms to our office.  In past fiscal years, we have encountered delays in obligating funds because applications were submitted too late in the fiscal year to allow appropriate time for review and processing.  The deadline to submit FY06 FMA applications for Planning and Projects is April 7, 2006 – via eGrants.

I look forward to working with you and your staff in implementing the FMA program.  Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at your convenience.  Please print this email and attachments for your FMA files.

Shane Rauh
State Hazard Mitigation Officer
225-925-7557

For questions or comments please contact the Mitigation Division at mitigation@ohsep.louisiana.gov

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FMA - FY 2006 FMA Program Guidance (401 KB)
FMA - FY 2006 FMA Agreement Articles Attachment I (118 KB)