Cal OES details FEMA hazard mitigation programs and application process

Matteo Rodriguez, senior environmental planner with the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) Resilience Branch, explained the state's role as applicant to FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) programs and summarized eligible activities and application mechanics.

Rodriguez described disaster-based programs — the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), post-fire and flood-specific funds — and non-disaster competitions such as Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC). He noted BRIC and FMA had been affected by federal-level changes and urged applicants to monitor Cal OES updates. "The Cal OES is the state designated agency that is the applicant for FEMA's HMA programs," Rodriguez said.

He explained application types from planning grants to shovel-ready mitigation projects and the two-phase approach (advanced assistance followed by construction), and said the local cost share for HMGP mitigation activities is 25% (FEMA reimburses 75%). Rodriguez encouraged submitting a Notice of Interest to Cal OES (the NOI serves as a screening tool) and noted a subapplication deadline for one declared disaster on Sept. 15 for funded subapplications; he provided a Resilience Branch contact for follow-up and a Cal OES hazard mitigation distribution listserv for updates.

Practical details: Rodriguez emphasized eligibility (state agencies, local governments, special districts, tribes and private nonprofits; private landowners and homeowners are not eligible for most HMA programs), typical eligible activities (planning, codes and standards, advanced assistance and mitigation projects) and the need for FEMA environmental and historic preservation reviews.