NJOEM Hazard Mitigation Program
Reducing Risk From Natural Hazards

Overview

Hazard mitigation ensures that fewer Americans and fewer communities become victims of natural and technological disasters. It is sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk and impact to people and property from natural and technological hazards. It results in safer communities that resist becoming victims when disaster strikes. Mitigation measures reduce risk for individuals, small and large businesses, and critical service locations such as hospitals, public safety facilities and utility stations.

Contact
Phone number: 609-882-2000 ext. 6208
E-mail address: mitigation@njsp.gov

Examples of mitigation include:

  • Promoting sound land use planning based on known community hazards
  • Adopting, and enforcing building codes and standards
  • Using fire-retardant materials in new construction
  • Buying flood insurance to protect personal property and belongings
  • Securing shelves and water heaters to walls
  • Elevating structures above the floodplain
  • Retrofitting highway overpasses to withstand earthquakes
  • Strengthening parapet walls on old masonry buildings
  • Anchoring bookcases in schools, libraries, and offices

Show All Sections

The Quarterly Reports for all open Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Projects (HMA/HMGP) are now being submitted through the online NJEMGrants system. If you are already filing using the site for your Public Assistance projects, the transition should be relatively seamless.

If you need access to NJEMGrants you will need to request access via a link on the home page. Please do so immediately. If you have had access in the past, but have forgotten your password, please request a password reset, also on the home page. Additional assistance can be obtained by emailing NJEMGrantsHelp@gw.njsp.org or calling 609-882-2000 ext. 3013.

HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) provides grants to States and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration. The purpose of the program is to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and to enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster.

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding is only available in States following a Presidential disaster declaration. Eligible applicants are state and local governments, Indian tribes or other tribal organizations, certain private non-profit organization.

Individual homeowners and businesses may not apply directly to the program; however a community may apply on their behalf. Projects must provide a long-term solution to a problem, for example, elevation of a home to reduce the risk of flood damages as opposed to buying sandbags and pumps to fight the flood. In addition, a project's potential savings must be more than the cost of implementing the project. Funds may be used to protect either public or private property or to purchase property that has been subjected to, or is in danger of, repetitive damage.


FLOOD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

FMA provides funding to help States and communities reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to buildings, manufactured homes, and other structures insurable under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). There are three types of grants available under FMA: Planning, Project, and Technical Assistance Grants.

FMA Planning Grants are available to help States and communities develop Flood Mitigation Plans. FMA Project Grants are available to help States and NFIP participating communities implement measures to reduce flood losses. Communities receiving FMA Planning and Project Grants must be participating in the NFIP. Examples of eligible FMA projects include: elevation, acquisition (“buy-out”), or relocation of NFIP-insured structures.

FEMA Flood Mitigation Assistance Brochure


PRE-DISASTER MITIGATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

FEMA has long promoted disaster-resistant construction and retrofit of facilities that are vulnerable to hazards in order to reduce potential damages due to a hazard event. Through the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, Congress approved creation of a national Pre-disaster Hazard Mitigation program to provide a funding mechanism that is not dependent on a Presidential disaster declaration. This new program builds on the experience gained from previous community-based disaster mitigation grants, the HMGP, and other mitigation initiatives.