HMA Program Guidance

Information on the current HMA Guidance and Addendum, fact sheets, job aids, data supplements, policies, environmental and historic preservation (EHP) guidance, and benefit-costs analysis guidance can be found below.

Current HMA Program and Policy Guide (2024)

FEMA has released the 2024 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program and Policy Guide (HMA Guide). This release reflects policy changes and stakeholder feedback received since the 2023 HMA Guide publication. The 2024 HMA Guide will be effective and supersede the 2023 HMA Program and Policy Guide as of July 30, 2024.

The updated 2024 HMA Guide incorporates new policies that have been written and or released over the past year, simplifies and clarifies areas and topics that HMA received comments and feedback on from stakeholders, continues to bolster and build out specific project and activity information in Part 12, and corrects administrative errors.

Download the 2024 HMA Guide 

• Summary of Changes (2024)
• Executive Summary (2023, superseding 2015 Guidance)
• Summary of Changes (2023, superseding 2015 Guidance)

Archived Hazard Mitigation Assistance Guidance

FEMA added the following technical review job aids to FEMA.gov in April 2022:

• Acquisition and Relocation: Information Required for Environmental Review
• Acquisition-Demolition: Information Required for Environmental Review
• Acquisition Technical Review
• Dry Floodproofing Technical Review
• Dry Floodproofing: Information Required for Environmental Review
• Elevation Technical Review
• Elevation: Information Required for Environmental Review
• Flood Risk Reduction Technical Review
• Flood Risk Reduction: Information Required for Environmental Review
• Generator Technical Review
• Hurricane Wind Retrofit Technical Review
• Hurricane Wind Retrofit: Information Required for Environmental Review
• Infrastructure Retrofit Technical Review
• Soil Stabilization: Information Required for Environmental Review
• Soil Stabilization Technical Review

Please note these documents currently can be found on pages 2 and 3 of the job aid section.

Climate Resilient Mitigation Activities & Nature-Based Solutions

FEMA is encouraging communities to incorporate methods to mitigate the impacts of climate change into eligible Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) funded risk reduction activities by providing guidance on Climate Resilient Mitigation Activities.

FEMA has developed Fact Sheets and Job Aids on Climate Resilient Mitigation Activities including green infrastructure methods, expanded ecosystem service benefits, and three flood reduction and drought mitigation activities:

• Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR)
• Floodplain and Stream Restoration (FSR), and
• Flood Diversion and Storage (FDS)

FEMA encourages communities to use this information in developing eligible HMA project applications that leverage risk reduction actions and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change.

FEMA Building Community Resilience with Nature-Based Solutions – A Guide For Local Communities (RiskMAP, 2020)

Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) Guidance

As a Federal agency, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) / Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is required to consider the effects of its actions on the environment and/or historic properties to ensure that all activities and programs funded by the agency, including grants-funded projects, comply with Federal Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) regulations, laws and Executive Orders as applicable. Job aids and supplements are provided below, under additional resources.

Bioengineering Stabilization Methods

Bioengineering stabilization methods use living and nonliving plant materials together with natural and synthetic construction materials to reduce erosion, establish vegetation, and stabilize streambanks, coastal shorelines, and landscapes. Bioengineering brings together engineering, ecology, and landscape architecture for long-term solutions to reduce risk from natural hazards.

Federal Procurement Standards and Guidance

All spending under FEMA hazard mitigation grants must comply with the federal procurement standards described in 2 CFR 200.317 through 2 CFR 200.326. Funds must be expended under official, documented procurement procedures, and ensure that you comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. All services provided by a vendor (including engineering, planning, survey, design, etc.) must be procured and contracted in a manner that follows the Federal regulations. This also includes any pre-award costs done by a vendor including assistance with sub-application development, and there are additional considerations if that vendor will also be assisting with the project post-award. Please take specific care in reviewing how you procure your engineering consultant because the federal regulations are more stringent than the Massachusetts State Procurement rules in that area. Documentation and compliance with these regulations will be required in order to reimburse federal funds.