Chapter 8 › III. Hazard Mitigation

Can FEMA pay to make our facility stronger than before?

FEMA term

PA hazard mitigation (Section 406)

Short answer

Yes, through PA hazard mitigation, which funds cost-effective measures beyond codes and standards that reduce future damage to the damaged parts of a facility. It applies only to permanent work projects (Categories C–G), not emergency work.

What FEMA requires

Measures must directly reduce future damage to the damaged portion of the facility, be technically feasible, comply with environmental and historic requirements, and not create new hazards.
Separate measures, such as floodwalls, new drainage along a damaged road, defensible space, or dry floodproofing of interdependent buildings, can qualify if they protect the damaged portion.
Code-required upgrades are not mitigation; mitigation is the work above code.
Engineering and design to develop a mitigation proposal are eligible if included in the approved scope.
If you don’t complete approved mitigation, FEMA deobligates it. PA and HMGP funds can be used on the same facility, but not for the same work.
Mitigation done after a quick repair, or before FEMA could review it, can still be eligible if cost-effective and environmentally compliant.

<table class="pt-table"><thead><tr><th>A 406 measure is cost-effective if…</th><th>Basis</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Its cost is no more than 15% of the facility’s eligible repair cost (before insurance reductions)</td><td>15 percent rule</td></tr><tr><td>It is listed in PAPPG Appendix J and costs no more than 100% of the eligible repair cost</td><td>Pre-approved measures</td></tr><tr><td>A benefit-cost analysis using FEMA’s BCA Toolkit shows benefits exceed costs</td><td>Benefit-cost analysis</td></tr></tbody></table>

Documentation

A hazard mitigation proposal with scope, cost, cost-effectiveness basis and environmental information.

Watch out · Govstar practitioner advice

Raise mitigation at the first site inspection. Once a project is obligated without it, adding mitigation takes far longer.

Govstar summarizes FEMA’s Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide in plain language and links to the official text. Govstar is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. This is general guidance, not legal advice.