FMA was created as part of the National Flood Insurance Reform Act (NFIRA) of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 4101) with the goal of reducing or eliminating claims under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). FMA regulations can be found in 44 CFR Part 78. Funding for the program is provided through the National Flood Insurance Fund. FMA is funded at $20 million nationally.

FMA provides funding to assist States and communities in implementing measures to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to buildings, manufactured homes, and other structures insurable under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

There are three types of grants available under FMA: Planning, Project, and Technical Assistance Grants. FMA Planning Grants are available to States and communities to prepare Flood Mitigation Plans. NFIP-participating communities with approved Flood Mitigation Plans can apply for FMA Project Grants. FMA Project Grants are available to States and NFIP participating communities to implement measures to reduce flood losses. Ten percent of the Project Grant is made available to States as a Technical Assistance Grant. These funds may be used by the State to help administer the program. Communities receiving FMA Planning and Project Grants must be participating in the NFIP. A few examples of eligible FMA projects include: the elevation, acquisition, and relocation of NFIP-insured structures.

States are encouraged to prioritize FMA project grant applications that include repetitive loss properties. The FY 2001 FMA emphasis encourages States and communities to address target repetitive loss properties identified in the Agency's Repetitive Loss Strategy. These include structures with four or more losses, and structures with 2 or more losses where cumulative payments have exceeded the property value.

State and communities are also encouraged to develop Plans that address the mitigation of these target repetitive loss properties.

FMA Guide   837 KB

FMA Appendix   3.4 MB