Can FEMA fund moving a facility to a safer location?

• FEMA-directed: the Regional Administrator may require relocation if the facility faces repeated heavy damage, approval isn’t barred, and it is cost-effective. Relocation cheaper than rebuilding in place is cost-effective; otherwise FEMA runs a benefit-cost analysis.
• Applicant-driven: relocate through an improved project, capped at replacement cost if destroyed or repair cost if repairable.
• Code-driven: if a code requires relocation but relocation isn’t eligible, funding is capped at repair without relocation costs, as an improved project.
• Eligible relocation work: land acquisition (only as much as needed), support facilities such as roads, parking and utilities, and demolition of the original.
• After a required relocation, FEMA won’t fund future repairs at the original site except open-space uses. Buyers of the original site must be told.

Damage history, cost comparison or benefit-cost analysis, land needs, and environmental review before acting at the original site.