On December 22, 2010, Vermont received a Presidential disaster declaration to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the areas struck by severe storms during the period of December 1-5, 2010.  FEMA’s Public Assistance funds will be made available to towns in Chittenden, Franklin and Lamoille counties for assistance with restoration costs.  In addition, there are federal mitigation funds available to all towns through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).

 

Vermont Emergency Management is now accepting HMGP grant applications from towns and agencies in all Vermont counties in connection with the most recent declared disaster.  The HMGP grant program is funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is administered by Vermont Emergency Management.  Federal funds are available to cover up to 75% of project costs; however, please note that there is a 25% local match requirement.

 

We encourage you to identify potential hazard mitigation sites in areas within your jurisdiction and apply for funds under the HMGP grant program.   Typical hazard mitigation projects include the following: repair and mitigation of local roads or bridges that are regularly flooded, replacement of undersized culverts, remediation of stream bank erosion, appropriate road ditching, acquisition (buy-out) of damaged homes in the designated floodway, etc.  Your project proposal need not be directly connected to the most recent declared disaster.  If you have a larger project (i.e. greater than $150,000 in total cost), you may also consider applying for a grant under FEMA’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation competitive (PDM-C) program which is open to all Vermont communities and which provides greater funding levels. 

 

You may download the HMGP application above or contact VEM at 800-347-0488 for an application.  You may also e-mail Erica Bornemann at ebornema@dps.state.vt.us or Ray Doherty at rdoherty@dps.state.vt.us.  

 

Please note the following FEMA eligibility requirements:

 

1)    Communities must have a FEMA approved and adopted Local Mitigation Plan no later than the date the grant funds are awarded

2)    Communities must be participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), if a special flood hazard area has been identified in the community

3)    The application must be completed in full, including: maps, list of alternative proposals, engineering plans, hydrology studies (if needed) and a full benefit-cost analysis (BCA).

 

The application may be downloaded from VEM’s website at the Mitigation tab. On VEM’s website, go to the Mitigation tab on the left-hand side, and then to mitigation forms where you can download the application.   Some assistance is available from the State Hazard Mitigation Officer for those needing help completing the benefit-cost analysis requirement; some application assistance may also be provided through Vermont Emergency Management.  

 

 

Deadline for all HMGP applications:

 

Close of business on Monday, October 3, 2011

 

Applications submitted past the deadline will not be accepted.

 

If you wish to apply for an HMGP grant, please submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to Vermont Emergency Management no later than Friday, March 18, 2011. The Letter of Intent should include a brief description of your proposal and the total estimated cost of your project.

 

Please submit completed Letters of Intent, HMGP application, benefit-cost analyses and supporting documentation to:

 

Ray Doherty, State Hazard Mitigation Officer

Vermont Emergency Management

103 South Main Street

Waterbury, VT   05671

Tel    (802) 241-5258

FAX  (802) 241-5556

rdoherty@dps.state.vt.us