Please note that our website is undergoing some redesign work, so please let us know if there is missing content that you need access to or if you are having difficulty locating anything!
Contact us at help@kymitigation.org.
Kentucky Watches, Warnings or Advisories Weather Alerts Follow the alerts, link here.
Link to our Quick Links.
Contact us if you have questions or want to join our newsletter e-mail list help@kymitigation.org.
Join KAMM – 2023
KAMM offers three membership levels: Individual ($25), Student ($10); and Agency/Organization ($250). Membership is based on the calendar year (January 1 – December 31).
Link to Join KAMM. Pay by Check or by Credit Card.

KAMM is very grateful to Lt. Governor Coleman for
speaking to our KAMM family this year and for her recognition and acknowledgement of our mitigation efforts across the Commonwealth.
Thank you, Lt. Governor Coleman!
2023 KAMM Conference Attendees Contact list
KAMM Attendees Certificates
Conference Evaluations
Mitigation in the Mountains
KAMM’s 19th Annual Conference in Prestonsburg

The KAMM Mitigation in the Mountains conference in Prestonsburg was a wonderful success! The folks at the Mountain Arts Center (MAC), Prestonsburg Tourism, and the City of Prestonsburg were the most gracious hosts anyone could ask for (and they provided us with beautiful weather and clean mountain air all week long)! The KAMM team thanks all of our KAMM family who were able to attend the 19th annual conference, and we hope you enjoyed your stay, met some new mitigation colleagues, and learned a lot.
Check back here for conference presentations and photos!
KAMM 2023-2025 Board of Directors
Chair: Joe Sullivan
Vice Chair: Angela Herndon
Secretary: Matt Crawford
Treasurer: Kevin Miller
At-Large Representative: Alex VanPelt
Region I Representative: Terry “Moose” Massey
Region II Representative: Meghan Brown
Region III Representative: Mario Sebastiani
Region IV Representative: Shanda Cecil
Past Chair: Geni Jo Brawner
Chair Emeritus: Carey Johnson
Visit the Conference Page
Visit the 2023-2024 KAMM Sponsors Page
Scan QR Code to Link to Agenda
Congratulations to our 2023 KAMM
Mitigation Manager of the Year
Matt Powell, City of Bowling Green
Environmental Manager
2022 Mitigation Manager of the Year, Jason York, presents the 2023 award to Matt Powell,
Bowling Green Environmental Manager
Read about Matt’s contributions here!
New gear at the KAMM store — check it out at KAMM eStore!
NEWS
The Grass is Always Greener: Best Practices for Water-Efficient Landscaping
October 3rd, 11 am – 12 pm
Well maintained landscaping can add value to properties, but often requires substantial water and energy consumption. Implementing strategies to minimize water use for irrigation can reduce water bills and create a more resilient environment. Join this webinar to learn from partners about best practices for curbing water use to cultivate sustainable landscapes.
Presenters:
- Michael Gulich, MGM Resorts International
- Tara O’Hare, U.S. EPA
- John Walker, University of Utah
If you’re interested in this webinar, register today.
Register for ShakeOut — World’s Largest Earthquake Drill
Join FEMA in the world’s largest earthquake drill on Oct. 19. Register and find out how to participate (ShakeOut.org/register).
Almost $1.4 million grant will support legal services to Kentucky flood victims, hotline
AppalRed Legal Aid will use a $1,345,226 grant to add staff to help low-income Kentuckians still trying to recover from last year’s severe storms, floods and mudslides, according to a news release from the Prestonsburg-based nonprofit. Read more…
Swept Away: 30 Years Since the Great Flood of 1993
The Great Flood of 1993 in the Midwestern United States was an unprecedented event. With over 500 counties that received federal disaster aid, a substantial effort in disaster assistance was needed by FEMA. With the first flood warnings in April for Iowa and Illinois, few would have guessed that it was only the beginning of an entire summer of flooding across the Upper Mississippi River basin.
Summer arrived with rains that continued to soak the Midwest. Rivers and streams rose quickly, overflowing their banks across a nine-state region. By the time the river finally subsided in St. Louis, every county in Iowa had received a major disaster declaration. In some locations, flooding lasted for nearly 200 days. Hundreds of agricultural levees were overtopped and destroyed. Thousands of homes and businesses were damaged.
In the aftermath of the major 1993 flooding, state hazard mitigation teams were faced with implementing a large-scale and well-funded Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) for the first time. HMGP provides grants to states, tribes, territories, and local governments interested in implementing long-term hazard mitigation measures in the wake of a major disaster declaration. The program enables mitigation measures during the recovery period following a disaster declaration. 1,352 properties were acquired and demolished. Acquisition of flood prone property was the main mitigation strategy selected by states in the Midwest for several years following the flood of 1993. Several thousand structures were eliminated from the floodplains throughout the region, and the parcels have been conserved as open space, restoring natural floodplain functions. In many of these areas, recent flooding events resulted in little to no damage.
Acquisition projects made up 97% of the hazard mitigation projects completed. These mitigation efforts also resulted in a decrease in the claims paid out by the National Flood Insurance Program for later flood events. When a presidential disaster declaration occurs, FEMA’s HMGP funding is available. Eligible applicants are state and local governments, federally recognized tribes or other tribal organizations, and certain private non-profit organizations.
2024 National Dam Safety Program Technical Seminar Registration & Call for Speakers Now Open
Registration and Call for Speakers is now open for the 31st annual National Dam Safety Program Technical Seminar (NDSPTS). The NDSPTS is a two-day seminar held annually that brings dam safety professionals from across the nation together. This year’s NDSPTS has been scheduled for Feb. 13-14, 2024.
The seminar will be hosted at FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute training facilities in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The theme for this year’s seminar is “Dam Safety 101: Design, Analysis, Construction, and Risk Management.”
The theme was selected by the National Dam Safety Review Board Work Group on Dam Safety Training, and it will highlight relevant issues and best practices in dam safety. Participants from the dam safety community are encouraged to register now and join the vast network of officials from state dam safety programs; dam and levee safety professionals at federal, territorial, and tribal agencies; dam and levee owners and operators; engineering consultants and emergency managers; and the private sector at the event.
For more information about the NDSPTS, please visit fema.gov or contact either timothy.bush@fema.dhs.gov or alesia.zagara@associates.fema.
[Registration Now Open] Kentucky Residential and Community Safe Room Training for Registered Design Professionals
You are cordially invited to attend the Kentucky Residential and Community Safe Room Training for Registered Design Professionals. Two identical offerings are available and scheduled for September 28th and October 25th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (ET). To register, please visit https://forms.microsoft.com/r/F3iVngKkNn.
This free virtual 3-hour Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) training funded by the Kentucky Disaster Declaration DR-4630-KY, is targeted towards registered design professionals; it will provide an overview of Part B of the recently updated FEMA P-361, Safe Rooms for Tornadoes and Hurricanes: Guidance for Community and Residential Safe Rooms, Fourth Edition (2021). FEMA P-361 presents updated and refined criteria for how to design and construct a safe room that provides near-absolute protection from wind and wind-borne debris for occupants. FEMA’s latest changes reference the 2020 update to the consensus standard from the International Code Council® (ICC®) and the National Storm Shelter Association (NSSA®), the ICC/NSSA Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters (ICC 500).
For more information please see the invite attached. Please feel free to share with anyone you think might be interested in attending.
To register, please visit https://forms.microsoft.com/r/F3iVngKkNn.
Relevant Training Materials:
- FEMA P-361: Safe Rooms for Tornadoes and Hurricanes: Guidance for Community and Residential Safe Rooms
- 2021 Kentucky Tornadoes Recovery Advisory 1: Essential Facilities Located in Tornado-Prone Regions: Recommendations for Facility Owners
- 2021 Kentucky Tornadoes Recovery Advisory 2: Reconstructing a Non-Residential Building After a Tornado
- Improving Windstorm and Tornado Resilience: Recommendations for One- and Two-Family Residential Structures
-
Design Guide for New Tornado Load Requirements in ASCE 7-22
To sign up for Building Science Disaster Support Emails: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSFEMA/subscriber/new?topic_id=USDHSFEMA_123
KACo Leadership Institute: Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery for County Elected Officials
Date: Oct. 3 or Oct. 4, 2023 – choose one
Time: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. EDT
Location: KACo HQ, Frankfort
Cost: FREE
|
|
|
FEMA Designates First Communities to Receive Targeted
Assistance for Hazards Resilience
Sept. 6, 2023, FEMA announced the initial designation of 483 census tracts that will be eligible for increased federal support to become more resilient to natural hazards and extreme weather worsened by the climate crisis. Congress directed FEMA to make these designations in the Community Disaster Resilience Zones Act of 2022 and implement this bipartisan legislation to help build resilience to natural hazards in communities most at-risk due to climate change. FEMA will use Community Disaster Resilience Zones designations to direct and manage financial and technical assistance for resilience projects. For example, for federal agencies, the legislation provides additional federal cost-share for projects in designated zones. The zone designations can also help the private sector, nonprofits, philanthropies, and other non-federal partners target investments in community resilience. The act aims to increase resilience efforts and preventative measures designed to address underserved communities most at-risk to natural hazards. Consistent with legislative direction, FEMA considered natural hazard risk from a national and state level while accounting for factors that reflect disaster impacts felt by coastal, inland, urban, suburban and rural communities. FEMA also ensured that each state has at least one Community Disaster Resilience Zone in these initial designations. “These designations will help ensure that the most at-risk communities are able to build resilience against natural hazards and extreme weather events, which are becoming increasingly intense and frequent due to climate change,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “This aligns with Congress’ direction, and other FEMA initiatives, to get federal support and resources to the communities that need them most.” This initial set of designations covers all 50 states and the District of Columbia. These designations can be explored on an interactive map on FEMA’s website. Additional information on the designation methodology and criteria is available. More Community Disaster Resilience Zone designations, including tribal lands and territories, are expected to be announced in the fall of 2023. An additional designation of zones will occur in 12-18 months based on updates to the National Risk Index, lessons learned from these initial designations, and stakeholder input. Examples of planned updates to the National Risk Index include additional data on tsunami and riverine flood risk. This new law amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Recovery and Emergency Act to direct use of a natural hazard risk assessment index, like FEMA’s National Risk Index, to identify communities which are most at risk of the effects of natural hazards and climate change. For these designations, this methodology uses a tailored version of the National Risk Index that includes socioeconomic status, household characteristics, house type and transportation themes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Social Vulnerability Index. The designation methodology also advances the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government commitment to environmental justice by incorporating the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, which identifies disadvantaged communities that are underserved and overburdened by pollution and climate risk. Designated zones will have prioritized access to federal funding for resilience and mitigation projects. For example, this fall, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will make an award for the Climate-Smart Communities Initiative program funded by the Inflation Reduction Act to accelerate the pace and reduce the cost of climate resilience-building for communities across the United States. NOAA will work with communities to co-develop equitable climate resilience plans that can be readied for funding and implementation. The priority is to assist communities that are at the highest risk to climate impacts and have the most need for assistance, such as the FEMA-identified Community Disaster Resilience Zones. The vision for the Community Disaster Resilience Zone Act, passed with bipartisan support in December 2022, is to leverage collaboration and cross-sector coordination across all levels of government, philanthropic foundations, private non-profits, universities, the insurance industry and private businesses. FEMA will continue to engage the public as it refines the natural hazard risk assessment methodology to designate the zones, consults with local jurisdictions and implements post-designation support from a range of public and private resources. News Release, FEMA Designates First Communities to Receive Targeted Assistance for Hazards Resilience | FEMA.gov |
Registration is Open for the 2023
Hazard Mitigation Partners Virtual Workshop!
This year’s workshop, All Together for Climate Resilient Communities, will run virtually October 16-19, from 12:00 – 4:45 p.m. ET. Detailed information about the workshop and a link to register can be found at Registration is Open for the 2023 Hazard Mitigation Partners Workshop | FEMA.gov.
The 2023 Hazard Mitigation Partners Workshop is the annual gathering of hazard mitigation experts and partners with the purpose of informing and updating stakeholders about mitigation grants and floodplain management, strengthening those relationships, and providing knowledge transfer between FEMA and our attendees from state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, other federal agencies, and FEMA stakeholders.
Announcing KWA’s Inaugural Kentucky
Watershed Network Collaborative Summit
You’re invited to KWA’s FREE Inaugural Kentucky Watershed Network Collaborative Summit on Thursday 11/2/23 – Friday 11/3/23 at Lost River Cave. This event is where experienced watershed leaders and the next generation of watershed leaders connect! Together, we will continue to establish and collaborate on needs and priorities for Kentucky Watershed Network activities and resources. There will be ample networking time and learning sessions. Follow this eventbrite link for more information and to REGISTER TODAY! There are limited spaces to participate, so sign up now. This is a FREE event, but there will be lodging costs. A detailed agenda will be released soon. We hope that you will come, learn, share, network, and contribute to OUR Kentucky Watershed Network.
No-Cost Webinar: Water Infrastructure Finance and
Innovation Act (WIFIA) Funding Overview
Date: Thursday, September 28, 2023
Time: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EDT
Description: Ask the experts! Join us to learn more about US EPA’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. The WIFIA program accelerates investment in our nation’s water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental loans for regionally and nationally significant projects. To date, WIFIA has made 109 loans, totaling $19 Billion!
In this upcoming webinar, EFCN will host two distinguished experts from the US EPA who will deliver insights and essential information about the WIFIA program. Following the comprehensive overview, you can engage in an interactive Q&A session, offering you the chance to ask EPA experts any questions you may have about the WIFIA program.
Presenters: Dallas Shattuck, Senior Program Manager for the WIFIA Program, and Leslie Temple, Loan Manager for the WIFIA Program, US Environmental Protection Agency
2024 ASFPM Annual National Conference Call for Abstracts is Now Open
It’s time to start developing the ASFPM 2024 program and we need your help! Submit an abstract, or two, to share your flood mitigation story, tool, or resource. Go to the conference website and follow instructions. Submissions will only be accepted using the online form. The website also provides helpful information on the selection process and expectations of presenters. The 2024 Call for Abstracts seeks professionals to submit for 30-minute concurrent sessions and/or 2-4 hour workshops that address the broad range of floodplain management issues including communicating flood risk, NFIP and flood insurance, policy, environmental justice and equity, success stories, natural and beneficial floodplain functions and more. Click here for more information and to submit your abstract. 2024 ASFPM Annual National Conference
|
FEMA Advisory: FEMA Announces Implementation of Immediate Needs Funding
FEMA’s top priorities are meeting disaster survivors’ immediate needs and ensuring states, tribes and territories have the necessary lifesaving and life-sustaining resources to respond to disasters.
Since the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is approaching exhaustion, and given the current disaster environment, FEMA is implementing Immediate Needs Funding (INF) guidance to extend the remaining balance. While we had intended to provide ten full days notice, the current disaster environment with a major fire and multiple hurricanes make it necessary to implement INF immediately. This will allow FEMA to continue its focus on response and urgent recovery efforts without interruption.
INF is intended to meet the urgent needs of disaster survivors and will prioritize funding for lifesaving, life-sustaining, and critical disaster activities. There have been a number of times in the past where the Agency found it necessary to issue INF, as a precautionary measure, to maintain an adequate DRF balance while awaiting passage of appropriations legislation.
When INF is implemented, funding will continue for Individual Assistance, Public Assistance essential for lifesaving and life-sustaining activities, state management costs, mission assignments and critical ongoing disaster operations.
Under INF, there will not be new obligations for Public Assistance not essential for lifesaving and life-sustaining activities, permanent work and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Obligations for these activities will be paused until the DRF is sufficiently funded. However, FEMA will continue to accept and process Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation grant applications even in categories where the obligations are paused.
It is critical that we adhere to these guidelines to ensure our agency has the resources needed to respond during catastrophic disasters. Please reach out to FEMA-FBO-Action-Tracker@fema.dhs.gov if you have questions about how this will impact particular projects.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact FEMA Office of External Affairs:
- Congressional Affairs at (202) 646-4500 or at FEMA-Congressional-Affairs@fema.dhs.gov
- Intergovernmental Affairs at (202) 646-3444 or at FEMA-IGA@fema.dhs.gov
- Tribal Affairs at (202) 646-3444 or at FEMA-Tribal@fema.dhs.gov
- Private Sector Engagement at (202) 646-3444 or at FEMA-Private-Sector@fema.dhs.gov
Follow Us
Follow FEMA on social media at: FEMA Blog on fema.gov, @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol on Twitter, FEMA or FEMA Espanol on Facebook, @FEMA on Instagram, and via FEMA YouTube channel.
Also, follow Administrator Deanne Criswell on Twitter @FEMA_Deanne.
FEMA Mission
Helping people before, during, and after disasters.
- FEMA Advisory FEMA Announces Implementation of Immediate Needs Funding 20230829.pdf
- INF FAQs.pdf
- INF Fact Sheet.pdf
FEMA Announces Final Selections for nearly $3 Billion in Funding to Drive Resilience to Climate Change, Extreme Weather Events
August 28th FEMA announced project selections for nearly $3 billion in climate resilience funding as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The selections, through two competitive grant programs, will help communities across the nation enhance resilience to climate change and extreme weather events.
Today’s selections include $1.8 billion for critical resilience projects funded by the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) national competition and $642 million for Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) community-scale flood mitigation projects. These selections build on $160 million in BRIC and FMA selections that FEMA announced in May for efforts to support mitigation projects, project scoping, and adoption of hazard-resistant building codes. Combined, the funds awarded this grant cycle of the BRIC and FMA programs total nearly $3 billion, including management costs.
President Biden’s Investing in America agenda has provided record funding to FEMA’s annual resilience grant programs, increasing them from $700 million when he took office to $3 billion this year. Overall, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides FEMA nearly $7 billion to help communities proactively reduce their vulnerability to flood, hurricanes, drought, wildfires, extreme heat, and other climate-fueled hazards. This increased funding allows FEMA to expand its geographic scope in funding selections and protect more of our nation’s communities that are most in harm’s way from the effects of climate change and extreme weather. Today’s selections include projects in 23 states that have never before received competitive BRIC funding.
Today’s selections further underscore the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to equity and environmental justice, including by assisting the most disadvantaged communities in building resilience to climate change and extreme weather events. Aligning with the President’s Justice40 Initiative, these efforts will advance the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain covered federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized and overburdened by pollution and underinvestment.
In total, more than $1.2 billion—71%—in BRIC national competition selections and approximately 53% of all BRIC and FMA selections—$1.6 billion—will benefit disadvantaged communities.
For the BRIC national competition, FEMA selected 124 projects across 115 communities. The selections span all 10 FEMA regions, including 38 states, one tribe and the District of Columbia. These are critical mitigation projects and activities to reduce natural hazard risks for states, local communities, tribes and territories.
Learn more about selected projects on BRIC’s homepage.
For the Flood Mitigation Assistance program, FEMA selected 149 projects in National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)-participating communities in 28 states and the District of Columbia. This funding will go towards flood control and individual property mitigation projects such as elevation, acquisitions and mitigation reconstruction of repetitively flood-damaged buildings insured by the NFIP.
Learn more about selected projects on Flood Mitigation Assistance’s homepage.
Emergency Conservation Program Assistance Available in Madison County
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting applications for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) in Madison County to address damages from the severe storm event that occurred in Madison County June 25, 2023. ECP signup will begin on August 14, 2023 and end on October 12, 2023.
The following county is eligible for ECP assistance: Madison County.
ECP helps you with the cost to restore the farmland to pre-disaster conditions. You may receive up to 75 percent of the cost of approved restoration activity. Limited resource, socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers and ranchers may receive up to 90 percent cost-share. The payment limitation for ECP is $500,000 per disaster, and the funds are limited to activities to return the land to the relative pre-disaster condition.
The approved ECP practices under this authorization include:
- EC1-debris
- EC3- fencing
You must apply for assistance prior to beginning reconstructive work. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), FSA must complete an environmental compliance review prior to producers taking any actions. Submitting an application after reconstructive work has been completed may not qualify for ECP. Conservation concerns that were present on the land prior to the disaster are not eligible for ECP assistance.
FSA county committees will evaluate applications based on an on-site inspection of the damaged land, taking into consideration the type and extent of the damage. An on-site inspection does not guarantee that cost-share funding will be provided.
For more information on ECP, contact the Madison County USDA Service Center at 859-624-1980 to schedule an appointment.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
New FEMA Elevation Certificate
FEMA released the updated Elevation Certificate form on Friday, July 7, 2023. There is no grace period for the old form. Any form signed and dated as of July 7, 2023 must be on the latest FEMA EC Form. To obtain a copy of the form, please go here.
Now that Verisk/ISO has a copy of the new form, we will be creating training webinars, videos, and guidance documents to help you understand the requirements of this new form. Trainings will be announced soon.
For Quick Reference: the same fields from the old form are still being required by CRS. New fields and newly-required fields on this new form are:
- A5 Lat and Long (every time)
- A6 (at least 2, preferably 4 or more photos must be submitted with each EC and they must be clear/visible)
- All of A8 (when appropriate)
- All of A9 (when appropriate)
- B1.a. and B1.b (yes, both must be entered and correct)
- C2f (LAG) and C2g (HAG): boxes now required for either “Natural” or “Finished” grade. These must be marked every time (when Section C is used).
- Section E – the stage of construction “Construction Drawings”/Buildings Under Construction”/“Finished Construction” must be marked when this section is used.
- E5 must be completed (when appropriate)
- G8 (every time)
- G11 (every time)
- Local officials must provide Name, Signature and Date in Section G (every time)
* The new Sections H and I are for insurance purposes only and ARE NOT reviewed for CRS purposes.
UPDATE:
On August 9, 2023, FEMA released the Write Your Own (WYO) Company Bulletin w-23007 which extends the use of the previous EC and Floodproofing forms until November 1, 2023.
For CRS communities and CRS annual requirements, this means that until November 1, 2023, ISO will accept the prior EC and Floodproofing forms (properly completed) that are signed and certified or the new EC and Floodproofing forms. Starting November 1, 2023, only the new EC and Floodproofing forms will be accepted (properly completed, signed and certified).
Webinars and Training Videos pertaining to the new forms will be available soon. In the meantime, we have two guidance documents you can use to help you understand the new CRS requirements: the “2022 EC Checklist” and the “Newly Required Fields for 2022 Elevation Certificate”.
FEMA Substantial Damage Estimator Training Modules
When structures within the floodplain are damaged, NFIP communities have a responsibility to assess impacts before repairs can be made, no matter the cause of the damage. If the repair cost is 50% or more of the structure’s market value, the structure must be protected from future flood damages using the community’s local floodplain management standards (i.e. Flood Ordinance). Rebuilding to current standards decreases risk to life and property, and prevents future disaster suffering.
To help floodplain managers and other local officials with implementing these Substantial Damage reviews, FEMA has put together a set of training videos (modules) that walk you through the process. Some examples of the modules include SD Basics, Using the SDE Tool, Residential vs. Non-Residential SDEs, Field Inspections, and more.
Watch the Substantial Damage Estimator Trainings HERE.
![]() |
Last year, officials from the White House, FEMA, state and local government, and private sector entities announced the National Initiative to Advance Building Codes. The initiative provided incentives and support for communities to adopt modern building codes.
FEMA also announced its Building Codes Strategy. To help with these efforts, FEMA published the Building Codes Adoption Playbook for Authorities Having Jurisdiction which is intended for officials interested in increasing community resilience and reducing loss from natural hazards by adopting the latest editions of model building codes. The Playbook equips officials with background and language to help educate decision-makers and constituents on the benefits of adopting and enforcing the latest building code editions. In addition, the publication provides general steps to help navigate the code adoption process and informs about FEMA grants available to support building code adoption and enforcement activities.
FEMA has also made recent updates to the National Hazards Index, including new data and information to improve the user experience and risk knowledge about floods, hurricanes and earthquakes. These changes will help inform the community’s decision-making as they create hazard mitigation plans and select resilience-related projects. All these resources were made in the hopes that they would help to protect communities and individuals from disasters in the future.
Homeowners Take Action
![]() In response to this storm, FEMA updated the Wind Retrofit Guide for Residential Buildings (FEMA P-804), with lessons learned from the last decades of storm observations and advances in wind engineering to help property owners retrofit their houses and apply for FEMA funding to do so. FEMA P-804 summarizes the technical information needed for selecting and implementing cost-effective FEMA-funded wind retrofit projects for existing one- and two-family dwellings in hurricane-prone regions of the United States and its territories. Although this Guide references guidance for one- and two-family dwellings in hurricane-prone regions, much of the guidance may also be applied to non-coastal areas subject to high winds. Homeowners can also download the newly released Building Codes Toolkit for Homeowners and Occupants to obtain a number of actionable resources that will aid you in navigating the ins and outs of starting a new project on your house. |
New Hazus Inventory National Database Now Available!
FEMA’s Hazus Team is excited to announce the release of the new Hazus Inventory National Database. The national database was designed to provide the risk assessment community and GIS professionals with a comprehensive nationwide dataset of the Hazus Inventory state databases. Traditionally the state and territory databases use SQL Server technology to store state data organized by state boundaries, with a single database per state.
The new dataset bypasses this step and provides users with an easily accessible nationwide database of the Hazus Inventory and their associated vulnerability attributes. The Hazus Inventory National Database can be accessed through the FEMA Flood Map Service Center Hazus Page, under the Hazus Program Data Updates and Open Source Tools tab.
|
The dataset was created to make natural hazard inventory data more accessible to non-Hazus users and to provide reference data for the state databases released from FEMA’s Hazus Program. If you’d like to download the data directly you can use this link. Please share with all who may be interested.
SIGN UP FOR KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE KAMM COMMUNITY MITIGATION GRANT FUND!
We are excited to be partnering with Kroger to raise funds for our community grant fund! When you enroll in the Kroger Community Rewards program and select Kentucky Association of Mitigation Managers as your organization, each purchase you make using your Kroger Rewards card will make a contribution toward KAMM’s Community Mitigation Grant Fund.

Visit http://www.kroger.com to get started(or use the QR code here).
Once you have logged into your Kroger account,
select Community Rewards from the left page menu. Search for Kentucky Association of Mitigation Managers either by name or XF099 and then click Enroll. New users will need to create an account which requires some basic information, a valid email address and a rewards card.
Participants must swipe their registered Kroger rewards card or use the phone number that is related to their registered Kroger rewards card when shopping for each purchase to count.
Let’s raise money together to help communities across the Commonwealth grow stronger!
NEWS FROM KAMM PARTNERS
Call for Moderators – 2023 KY GIS Conference
Looking for a volunteer opportunity at this year’s KAMP Conference??
Be a part of the moderator team!!
Moderating is a great way to earn GISP points and to contribute to KAMP! Click below to view the agenda with available slots for moderators and nab your slot today!
If you are interested, email Scott.Stepro@louisville.gov with your desired slot.
Agenda with Moderators |
|
|
|
Fall Weather Safety Campaign Starts September 1st
By: NWS Staff
The Weather-Ready Nation outreach team encourages everyone to take steps to ensure their safety from weather hazards this fall. Starting September 1, new weather safety content will be available for anyone to access, share over social media, or incorporate into their own safety messages to family, employees, and especially those most vulnerable. Content includes infographics, social media templates, presentations, and Spanish-language resources. For more information and to access the Fall Weather Safety Campaign visit: https://www.weather.gov/wrn/fall-safety.
Join the Kentucky Emergency Management Association (KEMA) or renew.
Memberships are available as Individual, Group, Associate, and Corporate.
You can register and pay online or you can print the invoice and mail in your payment. We encourage everyone to join and be a part of our association. We also encourage our associate and cooperate partners to join as well. The associate membership is for individuals interested in emergency management but is not otherwise affiliated with an emergency management program. Memberships are based on the January-to-December calendar year.
Corporate membership is for an individual representing a business or organization whose interests include emergency management. Memberships are based on the January-to-December calendar year.
For more information about the Kentucky Emergency Management Association (KEMA) click the links below.
KEMA: https://kyema.org/
JOIN KEMA: https://kyema.org/content.
Educational Opportunities
EPA’s Watershed Academy has two exciting announcements to share!
New Learning Module – Nutrient Pollution
We are excited to announce that the Watershed Academy’s new Nutrient Pollution Module is now available.
This module is intended to provide an overview of nutrient pollution and the associated water quality and human health impacts. This module covers the science behind the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus, the impacts of nutrient pollution on human health and the environment, the sources of nutrient pollution, and federal, state, tribal, and territory actions underway to mitigate nutrient pollution impacts. It also includes the current science on how climate change may impact nutrient pollution. Finally, the module covers the tools, opportunities, and activities available for the public to get involved in these issues. This module is eligible for the Watershed Management Training Certificate program.
Visit https://www.epa.gov/watershedacademy/nutrient-pollution-module to begin the course!
Webcast Recording – Addressing Nonpoint Source Pollution
The recording of EPA’s Watershed Academy webcast, “Addressing Nonpoint Source Pollution ” held on July 17th, 2023 is now available on EPA’s Watershed Academy webpage here: https://www.epa.gov/watershedacademy/addressing-nonpoint-source-pollution-through-epas-national-nonpoint-source-program.
Previous Watershed Academy webcasts are also available for viewing here: https://www.epa.gov/watershedacademy/watershed-academy-webcast-archives.
Campbell County Office of Emergency Management, Upcoming Training Winter Weather Hazards: Science & Preparedness (AWR-331)
This eight hour course will prepare participants to understand the basics of winter weather science, the winter weather forecasting process, how winter weather forecasts are communicated, and the fundamentals of winter weather safety and preparedness. Since winter storms can strike every state in the United States, it is important that every community be ready for the hazards associated with them. This awareness-level course will fulfill the goals of the “whole community” approach to emergency management by reaching a broad sector of the community. Multiple core capabilities will be addressed, with particular emphasis on “public information and warning” and “threats and hazard identification.” Participants who represent sectors such as mass care services, health and social services, operational communications, critical transportation, and planning would further expand the discussions in this course to other corresponding core capabilities.
This Course is sponsored by the Campbell County Office of Emergency Management, and the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security. Delivered by the National Disaster Preparedness Center at the University of Hawaii. All training delivered by the NDPTC is certified by DHS
and offered tuition-free to the nation’s emergency response community and associated stakeholders.
Register online at: https://bit.ly/37reGFj
Pipeline Security (AWR-302) Course: January 2024
America’s pipeline system stretches across the country like the veins and arteries of the human body and much of this system crosses the rural environment. The pipeline system delivers two-thirds of the petroleum products and nearly all of the natural gas to the homes and businesses of the United States. The system includes 2.5 million miles of pipelines, operated by over three thousand companies. The pipelines carry not only petroleum products and natural gas, but also other hazardous liquid materials. The purpose of this awareness level, instructor led course is to bring together rural pipeline security stakeholders including public safety, oil and gas pipeline representatives (large and small), local emergency planners, pertinent federal agencies, and other community stakeholders to recognize pipeline security threats and identify mitigation strategies within their jurisdictions to ensure that the rural pipeline sector is secure, resilient. This course has been developed by The University of Findlay and is delivered in an instructor-led format.
PARTICIPANT CRITERIA:
Public Safety (specifically law enforcement and fire), HazMat Teams, EMS, Public Works, local emergency planners, pertinent federal and state agencies, and other community stakeholders.
This course is 8 hours (1 day). Registration opens at 7:30 AM, class starts at 8:00 AM.
You can register online at: https://tinyurl.com/2zvv7x4x
Also, remember you are now required to have a FEMA Student Identification (SID) number to attend any homeland security training in person or online. The SID number takes the place of your social security number. Below is a link to the FEMA website to obtain the SID number if you do not already have one. The whole process should not take more than three minutes.
FEMA SID site: https://cdp.dhs.gov/femasid/register
Webinars from the National Association of Wetland Managers
|
|
New Online NFIP 101: Introduction to Floodplain Management from FEMA & ASFPM
Want to learn floodplain management basics? Don’t have the ability to attend a four-day training? Maybe you just want to brush up on one or two floodplain management topics?
In partnership with the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM), FEMA’s Floodplain Management Division is thrilled to announce that our new online, self-paced course NFIP 101: Introduction to Floodplain Management is live! The course is free and available to the general public. You may start, stop, and return to the course as your schedule permits, and you may take it as many times as you’d like. ASFPM is hosting the course and you can find it on their Training and Knowledge page under the “On-Demand Learning” heading, or link to NFIP101 (floods.org).
Two Ways to Use the Course:
Obtain a certificate of completion from FEMA’s Floodplain Management Division as well as 12 continuing education credits from ASFPM, both of which are earned after completing the course and passing the final exam.
As a reference guide on fundamental floodplain management concepts. No need to take the course all over again, just jump to the Chapter or Section you need a refresher on.
This course is intended for those just beginning a career in floodplain management.
It provides:
Local, state, tribal, territorial, and federal officials with the knowledge and skills to administer and enforce floodplain management regulations;
New floodplain administrators with information and communication techniques to explain the impact of floodplain management decisions on insurance, public safety, and health; and
An overview of NFIP minimum floodplain management regulations based on the types of flood hazards identified as well as Substantial Improvement (SI) and Substantial Damage (SD), and describes the use of a permitting process as a floodplain management oversight and compliance tool.
While the content of this course is congruent with EMI’s EL-0273: Managing Floodplain Development Through the NFIP, successful completion of this course does not confer credit from EMI. Interested parties should visit https://training.fema.gov/netc_online_admissions/ to inquire about in-person E-273 courses or reach out to their State Coordinators to inquire about the locally offered, in-person L-273 course. However, students need not choose between the in-person, classroom experience versus the online course. Both are useful, and can meet differing scheduling/topic needs.
Registration: https://www.floods.org/training-center/online-training/asfpm-on-demand-learning/nfip101/
New Hazard Mitigation Planning and Water Resource Management Module
We are excited to announce that the Watershed Academy’s new Hazard Mitigation Planning and Water Resource Management Module is now available.
This module is intended for water quality and hazard mitigation professionals that are interested in integrating water quality issues and/or nature-based solutions into state or local Hazard Mitigation Plans (HMPs), and highlights the benefits of working across water quality and hazard mitigation programs. Modules in this series can be used as training tools to help planners from both worlds explore activities of mutual interest and benefit. Case studies and examples are provided to assist hazard mitigation planners with integrating water resource programs into HMPs and help watershed planners understand the synergies between water resource plans and HMPs.
Visit https://www.epa.gov/watershedacademy/hazard-mitigation-module to begin the course!
Barren River ADD TEEX Courses: Infrastructure Disaster Management Certificate
This program provides the emergency management community a deep dive into key sub-sectors of Critical Infrastructure.
MGT341 Disaster Preparedness for Healthcare Organizations
Link to the informational flyer with QR codes: TEEX Courses
12/13/23 – 12/14/23: MGT341 Disaster Preparedness for Healthcare Organizations
Contact Dajana Crockett for more information.
(270) 306-4061
dajana.crockett@bradd.org
Community Rating System Webinar Schedule
The CRS Webinar Series provides both live and on-demand training to communities. The Series includes basic introductory sessions and more advanced topics, most averaging about an hour in length.
For dates and topic, link to CRS Training and Webinars
Link to https://crsresources.org/training/ to register.
SAVE THE DATE: Hazard Mitigation Partners Virtual Workshop is
October 16-19, 2023
The workshop will be held virtually on Oct. 16-19, 2023, from noon– 4:45 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). The 2023 HM Partners Workshop theme, All Together for Climate Resilient Communities, will bring stakeholders to together to discuss our focus on partnerships, community-based efforts to prevent and reduce the risk of flooding, expanding access to Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant funding, and simplifying our mitigation programs and processes to help the whole community build climate resilience.
|
Check out other Online Training
Link to Online Training.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
|
|
The National Dam Safety Program Announces Fiscal Year 2024 Funding Opportunities Application Period and Amounts
Correction: Please note this is a correction to the email sent out September 14, 2023. Two clarifications: 1- The SA grant program received $148 million from BIL, and 2- stakeholders must update their information in the NID no later than October 6, 2023, not November 6, 2023, as previously disseminated.
![]() SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 – FEMA and the National Dam Safety Program have announced the grant disbursement schedule for fiscal year 2024, including proposed amounts for the Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams (HHPD) grant program and the State Assistance (SA) grant program. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was signed into law on November 15, 2021, and provided the National Dam Safety Program the following amounts for these two programs. This is funding over five years from 2021-2026.
The program considered different methodologies to determine the funding disbursements and schedule, such as Balanced Year Awards, Build-Up Year Awards, Premium Year Awards, and Full Availability Year Awards. In addition, other considerations included state funding resources and timing, funding cycles and the status of the previous year’s funding, stakeholder feedback and the goals of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. As a result, the National Dam Safety Program chose the following funding disbursement schedule:
The BIL-funded funding opportunities are expected to be issued for both NDSP grant programs in the fall of 2023. All applicants can find additional information on FEMA’s webpages for the Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams grant program and the State Assistance grant program. To be considered for either grant, applicants are advised to complete the following:
Applications must be complete and submitted by the deadlines of funding opportunities. HHPD grant sub-applicants must also be eligible non-federal entities, and the dam(s) must be classified as high hazard in the National Inventory of Dams. Application resources will be provided in advance of the funding opportunities. For more information about the National Dam Safety Program, please visit FEMA’s website. |
NRCS Makes $65 Million Available for Conservation Innovation Grants
NRCS is making $65 million in funding available for new tools, approaches, practices and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands through Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG). Submit proposals by October 30.
Grants available to help repair community infrastructure damaged by destructive weather in 2022
Rural Development Kentucky State Director Dr. Tom Carew recently announced the availability of grants to help communities repair essential community facilities damaged by presidentially declared disasters in 2022.
USDA is making grant funding available nationwide through the Community Facilities Disaster Repair Grants Program, which received supplemental disaster funding under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023.
Eligible entities may apply to receive up to 75% of total project costs to help repair community facilities that were damaged by natural disasters in 2022. Eligible organizations include public bodies, federally recognized Indian Tribes and community-based nonprofits.
For more information, contact USDA Community Programs division at 859-224-7673.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
One Percent Loan Program for Distressed Communities
USDA Rural Utilities Service has received funding for a new One Percent Loan program to help distressed communities. The One Percent Loan program provides an additional tool in our Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant program to maximize the investments from Congress and reduce the reliance on grant funding, while having a positive or neutral fiscal impact on distressed communities receiving assistance.
Funding is available now to help you build, expand, and repair your community’s drinking water, wastewater, storm water drainage, and sanitary solid waste disposal systems. Program highlights include:
- One percent loan financing can be combined with grants to keep user costs reasonable.
- Long loan terms are available with typical projects financed over 40 years, subject to state statute.
- Comprehensive funding allows for construction, engineering, land, legal, environmental, and many other project costs.
Low interest loans are available now. Contact our State Offices to discuss your projects!
USDA makes grants available to help rural communities repair water infrastructure damaged by destructive weather in 2022
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Kentucky State Director Dr. Tom Carew today announced the availability of grants to help communities repair water infrastructure damaged by presidentially declared disasters in 2022.
USDA is making over $247 million in grant funding available nationwide through supplemental disaster funding under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. Funds will remain available until expended.
“The Biden-Harris administration and USDA Rural Development stand ready with every resource at our disposal to help communities rebuild,” said Carew. “The assistance I’m announcing today will help make sure rural communities who have been impacted by natural disasters in calendar year 2022 have the resources they need to rebuild their lives and their communities.”
This assistance is greatly needed in parts of Eastern Kentucky that were heavily impacted by historic flooding in 2022.
“We made a promise that we’d be there for Eastern Kentucky for the entire rebuilding process,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “These funds will be a major help in keeping that promise. Thanks to Dr. Carew and USDA Rural Development for providing relief and hope to our people and communities as we work toward a brighter future.”
Eligible applicants include rurally located public bodies, and nonprofit organizations.
Funds may be used to:
- repair damaged water infrastructure.
- develop resiliency to reduce long-term risks from future disasters.
The following Kentucky counties have 2022 presidentially declared disaster areas:
|
|
Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
$74,217,000 in Funding Available to Kentucky from Investing in America Agenda to Clean Up Legacy Pollution and Reclaim Abandoned Mine Lands
The Department of the Interior today announced that nearly $725 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is available to 22 states and the Navajo Nation to create good-paying jobs and catalyze economic opportunity by reclaiming abandoned coal mine lands. The law provides a total of $11.3 billion in abandoned mine land (AML) funding over 15 years, which will help communities clean up dangerous environmental conditions and pollution caused by past coal mining. This funding is expected to enable reclamation of the majority of current inventoried abandoned mine lands in this country.
This is the second allotment of funding through the program. Nearly $725 million was allocated in the first year. With this funding, states have started planning, hiring and construction, including on projects that will protect homes and infrastructure from subsidence and landslides, create new recreation opportunities, and clean up streams polluted with acid mine drainage.
“The Biden-Harris administration stands shoulder-to-shoulder with states and Tribal Nations in repairing the damage left by legacy coal mining,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “Through the President’s Investing in America agenda, we are making the largest investment in abandoned mine reclamation in history, which will create good-paying jobs for current and former coal workers, help revitalize local economies, and advance environmental justice. These smart investments will build a cleaner, healthier and more just future for our children and grandchildren.”
“These historic investments are all part of the Administration’s all-of-government approach to support communities as they address the lingering impacts of extractive industries and transition to a clean energy future,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Laura Daniel-Davis. “To help address these dangerous hazards and toxic pollution that continues to have an impact on our communities, we encourage all eligible states and Tribes to submit grant applications.”
AML reclamation projects support vitally needed jobs by investing in projects that close dangerous mine shafts, reclaim unstable slopes, prevent releases of harmful gases including methane, improve water quality by treating acid mine drainage, and restore water supplies damaged by mining. AML reclamation projects also enable economic revitalization by rehabilitating hazardous land so that it can be used for recreational facilities or other economic redevelopment uses like advanced manufacturing and renewable energy deployment.
This funding opportunity advances the Biden-Harris administration’s unprecedented investments in communities and workers to support an equitable transition to a sustainable economy and healthier environment after the closure of mines or power plants. This effort also advances the President’s commitment to environmental justice and the Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain climate and clean energy investments to disadvantaged communities.
The notice of funding opportunity follows the release of final guidance for how States and Tribes can apply for this historic funding. States and Tribes that apply for the funding are encouraged to:
- Prioritize projects that invest in disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution, consistent with the President’s Justice40 Initiative.
- Incorporate public review and comment into the selection of projects to be funded.
- Prioritize eligible projects to maximize the amount of methane emissions that can be reduced.
- Prioritize the employment of current and former coal industry workers.
Applications for the FY2023 BIL AML funds must be submitted in the GrantSolutions website.
USDA makes grants available to help people in rural KY repair their homes damaged by destructive weather in 2022
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Kentucky State Director Dr. Tom Carew today announced the availability of grants to help people repair their homes that were damaged by historic flooding and other destructive weather in 2022.
The homes must be located in Presidentially declared disaster areas. People living in 26 Kentucky counties are eligible for the funding.
“Destructive weather like the historic flooding that impacted Eastern Kentucky destroyed homes and further exacerbated the affordable housing crisis in the region,” said Carew. “That’s why the Biden-Harris administration and USDA stand ready to help thousands across rural Kentucky access the resources they need to rebuild their homes, their communities and their lives. We do this work because we know that rural America is home to millions of people who make up America’s spirit and character.”
The grants are being made available through supplemental disaster funding under the Rural Disaster Home Repair Grant Program. Through this program, people may apply to receive grants of up to $40,675 directly from USDA to repair their homes.
Learn more about how the funds may be used, eligibility requirements, and eligible counties at the full news release.
For more information on how to apply, contact Rural Development Kentucky’s Single-Family Housing team at 859-224-7322 or visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/
USDA Has Funding Available to Help Rural Communities Improve Water and Wastewater Infrastructure
Last year, more than 2.5 million rural residents and businesses benefitted from improved water and wastewater infrastructure thanks to financial assistance from USDA. The Department provided over $2 billion in financing for 640 rural water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
Whether you need to build, expand, or renovate your system, USDA has funds available now in the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program.
Program Highlights
- Projects must be in a rural area with a population of 10,000 or less
- Eligible applicants may be public bodies, nonprofits, or Federally-recognized Tribes
- Low interest rate funding can be combined with grants to keep user costs reasonable
- Longer financing terms are available with typical projects financed over 40 years
- Applications are accepted on a continuous basis and may be filed electronically using RD Apply.
Contact our State Offices for more details and interest rates applicable for your project.
Finding Funding for Nature-Based Projects Just Got a Little Bit Easier
Announcing a new searchable database for communities interested in funding nature-based infrastructure solutions
The National Wildlife Federation has launched a new microsite FundingNatureBasedSolutions.nwf.org, that aims to easily connect community planners and other stakeholders with sources of federal funding for infrastructure projects that incorporate natural elements.
The site allows users to search and sort the more than 70 types of federal grants that fund nature-based restoration solutions based on factors such as eligible recipients, project purpose, and the match required. It also provides information about the typical application cycles, and contact information for each program.
Recent legislation, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework and the Inflation Reduction Act, created several new funding streams for nature-based projects and augmented existing programs’ funding for broad purposes such as flood protection, water quality improvement, disaster recovery and transportation resilience. The website will be updated regularly as the funding sources available evolve.
Visit the National Wildlife Federation Media Center NWF.org/News.
Green Infrastructure Funding Microsite
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) launched a new funding microsite for communities interested in pursuing federal funding and/or technical assistance for nature-based solutions and green infrastructure projects. The interactive database allows users to search and sort the more than 70 types of federal grants that fund nature-based solutions based on factors such as eligible recipients, project purpose, and the match required. It also provides information about the typical application cycles, and contact information for each program.
Access the database here: FundingNatureBasedSolutions.nwf.org
PROGRAM UPDATES
FY22-29 NEHRP Strategic Plan
Over the past three years, the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program — composed of the National Institute of Science and Technology, National Science Foundation, United States Geological Survey and FEMA— collaborated to produce a Strategic Plan. This legislative requirement is now final after Office of Management and Budget clearance.
The plan can be found on the NEHRP.gov. NEHRP will now use the document to create a management plan.
FEMA Releases Updated HMA Guidance
FEMA released updated and consolidated guidance to help grant applicants successfully navigate its mitigation grant programs to enhance climate resiliency. Following a multi-year effort and robust community engagement, FEMA updated the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program and Policy Guide to reduce complexities and increase stakeholder accessibility to resilience grant programs. This is the first update to the guide since 2015, and it now incorporates climate change and future conditions, equity, building codes, capability and capacity building, nature-based solutions and community lifelines as key principles for its grant programs. It also covers a new program created since the last version, Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC). State, local, tribal and territorial governments can use the guide to help them through the Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant lifecycle process.
FEMA will be offering several webinars and developed materials that offer more information about the updated guide. Anyone interested in attending may register here.
FEMA’s National Mitigation Planning Policy Updates Go Into Effect
In April 2022, FEMA released updates to the State and Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guides (policies) including a Spanish translation of the Local Guide. The policies went into effect April 19, 2023 for all plan approvals. This means hazard mitigation plans approved on or after April 19th must meet the requirements of the updated policies.
The policies help state and local governments create hazard mitigation plans that meet the mitigation planning requirements. The policies also promote including hazards in community planning and risk-informed decision making. Download and start using the updated policies today.
Since the release of the updated policies in April 2022, FEMA also created and revised several other resources for partners:
- The four State Mitigation Planning Key Topics Bulletins walk through the concrete ways states can update their plans in accordance with the State Policy Guide. They offer step-by-step how-tos for the planning process, risk assessment, mitigation capabilities and mitigation strategy.
- The Planning the Mitigation Program Consultation: Resources for States, D.C., and Territories toolkit helps FEMA and partners jointly plan the annual mitigation program consultation. It includes checklists to help identify agenda items and create high-impact meetings.
- This Enhanced State Validation Toolkit provides resources for FEMA and state mitigation planning partners to develop performance measures and commitments for annual validations. These validations ensure their enhanced mitigation program is on track.
- FEMA is in the process of updating its core training materials for state and local mitigation planning to incorporate the new policy information. Updated trainings will include L-329 State Hazard Mitigation Planning and L/K-318 Local Hazard Mitigation Planning. To host or request a training, contact your Regional Mitigation Planner.
- FEMA will be releasing an updated Local Mitigation Planning Handbook in Spring 2023. To be notified when it is released, sign up for our GovDelivery
FEMA looks forward to working with our state, local and territorial partners under the updated policies to create resilient communities. If you have questions on the policies, email the Mitigation Planning Program at fema-mitigation-planning@fema.
FEMA Releases NFIP Technical Bulletin 10
FEMA is pleased to announce the release of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Technical Bulletin 10, Reasonably Safe from Flooding Requirement for Building on Filled Land Removed From the Special Flood Hazard Area in Accordance with the National Flood Insurance Program (TB 10). This publication is the latest update to the NFIP Technical Bulletin series.
TB 10 provides guidance on the NFIP requirements related to determining that buildings constructed on filled land will be reasonably safe from flooding. Guidance is provided for the placement of fill and the parameters for the design and construction of buildings on filled land that has been removed from the Special Flood Hazard Area through the flood map revision process managed by FEMA.
The major updates in TB 10 include:
- The title has been updated. It was previously Ensuring That Structures Built on Fill In or Near Special Flood Hazard Areas Are Reasonably Safe From Flooding in Accordance with the National Flood Insurance Program.
- The intent of TB 10, and when it is appropriate to use TB 10, has been clarified.
- Increased emphasis on documentation needed for a local official to make the “reasonably safe from flooding” determination.
- Additional best practices are provided.
- Grouped and reorganization of the content discussing the Technical Approaches to Seepage Analysis in Section 9.
To learn more about the eleven NFIP Technical Bulletins, visit the FEMA National Flood Insurance Technical Bulletins.
The National Floodplain Function Alliance Wetland Mapping Consortium Strategies and Action Plan for Protecting and Restoring Wetland and Floodplain Functions

Final Report Now Available!
Since 2017, the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) Foundation has collaborated with the Association of State Wetland Managers (ASWM), the National Floodplain Functions Alliance, and the Wetland Mapping Consortium to provide funding and active participation in a series of four workshops, the focus of which was to:
“Improve floodplain mapping integrating geospatial data being developed and used by the wetland mapping community to identify wetland and floodplain functions.”
Each of the first three workshops had a targeted discussion topic, which attendees discussed at length, offering their professional insights and informed opinions.
- The first workshop – conducted in 2018 was titled “Exploring Opportunities for Integrated Mapping and Functional Assessment of Riverine and Coastal Floodplains and Wetlands.”
- The second workshop – conducted in 2019 was titled “Data Needs, GAPS and Interoperability for Integrated Mapping and Functional Assessment of Riverine and Coastal Floodplains and Wetlands.”
- The third workshop – conducted in 2021 was titled “Federal Program and Policy Changes Needed to Advance Integrated Functional Mapping of Floodplain and Wetlands for Nature – Based Solutions.”
The final workshop, which convened in 2022, was a culmination of discussions during the first three workshops, and resulted in the development of strategies and actions, which were memorialized in the January 2023 final report, titled “Strategies and an Action Plan for Protecting and Restoring Wetland and Floodplain Functions.” The final report and summary workshops reports are available on the Reports and Publications page of the ASFPM Foundation website.
ASFPM Foundation Mission Statement Serve as the catalyst for ASFPM, its Chapters, and members to advance research, projects, education and policy initiatives, that promote reduced flood risk and resilient communities. |
For more information about the National Floodplain Function Alliance Wetland Mapping Consortium, please visit website or contact Brad Anderson, ASFPM Foundation Projects Chair, at Brad.Anderson@acewater.com.
Answers to Questions about the National Flood Insurance Program
An in-depth guide addressing frequently asked questions about the NFIP. This resource includes valuable information about flood insurance policies, what to do before and after a flood, flood maps, flood mitigation actions and more.
Click NFIP Question & Answer to download the publication.
PUBLICATIONS, RESOURCES, & MOBILE TOOLS
|
|
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Economic Revitalization Guide for CDBG-DR Grantees
Description
The Economic Revitalization Guide provides Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) grantees with the tools and resources to design and implement economic revitalization activities that promote economic recovery after a disaster, improve long-term economic resilience, and address the needs of underserved communities.
Part I of the Guide provides an overview of effective economic development strategies and offers recommendations for how CDBG-DR grantees can align disaster recovery activities with broader local and regional strategies.
Part II of the Guide presents case studies on the use of CDBG-DR funds by existing grantees to enhance the quality of life in underserved communities by supporting local businesses, driving job growth and training residents to access quality jobs.
Resource Links
|
|
ASCE Releases Flood Supplement for ASCE 7-22
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has released a new supplement to the 2022 edition of its widely used standard titled ASCE/SEI 7: Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures (ASCE 7-22). The release of the ASCE 7-22 supplement (2) on flood loads marks a milestone in advancing flood-resilient building design. It focuses on flood load provisions and introduces significant improvements to enhance the resilience of buildings against extreme flood events. This update surpasses the previous edition, which primarily focused on the 100-year flood hazard, by implementing minimum recurrence intervals of 500-, 750-, and 1000-years to improve structure reliability throughout its design life.
The new supplement adopts risk-based approaches and aligns with the prevailing trend of using higher minimum recurrence intervals to enhance building design resilience. The supplement ensures flood load calculation consistency with other hazards addressed in the standard, such as wind and seismic design, which also use higher recurrence intervals for load calculations.
Noteworthy technical updates within the supplement include revised minimum design requirements, which incorporate sea level change and adjustments to the calculations of hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads (such as velocity and scour), wave loads, debris loads, flood load cases, load combinations and stability checks. These updates reflect a departure from previous versions of ASCE 7 and signify society’s commitment to integrating climate data into its standards.
In conclusion, the new ASCE 7-22 Supplement 2 on flood loads represents a significant advancement in flood-resilient building design. By embracing the 500-year flood hazard area and incorporating risk-based approaches, the supplement enhances the safety and reliability of structures, instilling confidence in residents and businesses facing weather-related challenges. The release of this supplement as a free download reflects ASCE’s commitment to disseminating vital engineering knowledge and promoting the highest standards in the industry.
FEMA Releases the First Two Modules in the Building Code Playbook Video Series
![]()
The Building Code Playbook Video Series offers a more in-depth look at topics covered in the Building Codes Adoption Playbook for Authorities Having Jurisdiction to help communities learn more about building codes and how they can improve their natural hazard resilience. The video series will provide guidance to Authorities Having Jurisdiction who are considering adoption of the most current model building codes to mitigate damage and loss caused by future natural hazards. By adapting the playbook into a video series, FEMA will be able to better provide general knowledge on the importance of building codes, steps to adopt and enforce them, information on FEMA grants and references to additional resources. The first two released are: The video series is anticipated to have nine modules in total, the remainder to be released later this year. |
FEMA Releases Eight New Guidance Publications About Wildfire
On Dec. 30, 2021, the Marshall Fire swept through the City of Louisville, the Town of Superior, and unincorporated Boulder County. The fire burned across exceptionally dry grassland, fanned by hurricane-force winds, resulting in the most destructive fire in state history, destroying and damaging more than 1,000 homes and over 30 commercial structures. The damage to communities resulting from the combination of these hazards (i.e., drought, wind, and wildfire) demonstrated the need for a multi-disciplinary approach to wildfire mitigation.
FEMA’s Building Science Disaster Support Program (BSDS) deployed its first-ever wildfire Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) to evaluate building performance during the fire. Team members evaluated components and systems of primarily residential structures to determine the effectiveness of various building materials, design, and construction practices for wildfire resiliency.
The team used the information gathered to evaluate how wildfire-urban interface (WUI) building codes and standards and how design, construction, and defensible space practices can be improved to increase community wildfire resilience.
FEMA has released eight new wildfire publications to assist planners, local land management personnel, builders, and property owners in how to identify how wildfires interact with other natural hazards and strategies to mitigate wildfire and post-wildfire impacts.
- Marshall Fire MAT: Mitigation Strategies to Address Multi-Hazard Events
- The information in this document can be used to guide the incorporation of site-based wildfire mitigation strategies into planning, community siting and zoning requirements. This document can also guide the adoption of proactive planning, development and maintenance strategies that can minimize future risk of multi-hazard events.
- Marshall Fire MAT: Best Practices for Wildfire-Resilient Subdivision Planning
- This document provides builders/contractors, planning professionals, Homeowners Associations, and local land resource managers with information about wildfire resiliency planning and open-space management policies, best practices, and procedures at subdivision- and neighborhood scales.
- Decreasing Risk of Structure-to-Structure Fire Spread in a Wildfire
- The purpose of this document is to provide recommendations to contractors and designers on new building construction that may prevent or slow the spread of a fire from structure-to-structure in densely spaced neighborhoods.
- Wildfire-Resilient Detailing, Joint Systems and Interfaces of Building Components
- This document provides information on ways to reduce the vulnerability of residential structures to wildfire ignition due to windborne embers, hot gases, and flames penetrating common detailing joints and building component interfaces that exist throughout the exterior envelope of a building. While the primary focus of this document is to provide guidance on retrofitting existing residential homes, many of the recommendations for increasing wildfire resiliency of common details, joint systems, and building component interfaces would also be applicable to new construction and commercial buildings.
- Homeowner’s Guide to Reducing Wildfire Risk Through Defensible Space
- This document provides homeowners with steps they can take now to protect their homes from loss or damage from wildfires due to vulnerabilities introduced by surrounding landscaping and other exterior features (e.g., outbuildings, sheds, furniture, and trash bins) within the homeowner’s property. The goal is to increase homeowner awareness of the key mechanisms and characteristics of Wildfire and the Wildland Urban Interface fires that can result in home ignition.
- Homeowner’s Guide to Reducing Risk of Structure Ignition from Wildfire
- This document provides homeowners with steps they can take now to decrease the likelihood their homes will ignite due to direct flame contact, ember intrusion, or hot gases from wildfires at various physical vulnerabilities throughout the exterior envelope of the house. Specifically, it provides information about some measures that homeowners can take to address vulnerabilities at joints, gaps, vents, and attachments such as decks and fences.
- Homeowner’s Guide to Risk Reduction and Remediation of Residential Smoke Damage
- The purpose of this document is to provide recommendations to homeowners for pre-wildfire measures to help reduce the risk of smoke damage and do-it-yourself steps that homeowners can take to remediate light to moderate smoke damage. This document also includes recommendations for selecting and monitoring a professional cleaning services contractor for heavy smoke damage.
- Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Marshall Fire Building Performance, Observations, Recommendations, and Technical Guidance (FEMA P-2320)
- The objective of this MAT report is to provide actionable recommendations to improve residential building performance under wildfire conflagration conditions. It describes the MAT’s observations during the field deployments, draws conclusions based on those observations, and provides recommendations for actions that property owners can take to help increase the resiliency of their homes and neighborhoods to future wildfires. It also provides recommendations that local government officials, planners, builders, design professionals, and homeowners’ associations can implement to reduce the potential impacts of wildfires on communities and improve their resilience.
These guidance documents are important for moving forward, as the landscape is continuously evolving due to climate change and putting more communities at risk. With the work that FEMA has put in, the intent is that these documents can also guide the adoption of proactive planning, development and maintenance strategies that can minimize future risk of multi-hazard events.
For additional information, please visit: www.fema.gov/bsds
Help Prepare Your Community by Using FEMA’s Data and Findings!
Do you want to use data to inform your preparedness efforts? Are you wondering what actions you should encourage your community to take? FEMA publishes Data Digests to share findings from its preparedness research, like the annual National Household Survey on Disaster Preparedness. Our goal is to provide you with relevant insights, data, findings, research-validated protective actions and helpful links that you can use to engage with your community. We invite you to use the information below and incorporate Data Digest resources into your preparedness publications, social media posts and stakeholder outreach.
Have questions about this data? Want to receive the Data Digest in your inbox? Contact FEMA at FEMA-Prepare@fema.dhs.gov. Extreme heat can be deadly. Read about how you can help your community learn how to identify and respond to the effects of extreme heat in FEMA’s most recent Data Digest on extreme heat preparedness. |
New FEMA Building ScienceResources!
For Children:
Building Codes Activity Book: This activity book helps children learn more about how building codes help protect our communities against natural hazards. By using natural hazard-resistant building codes, communities are better prepared for events such as earthquakes, storms, floods, or fires.
Earthquake:
FEMA P-366, Hazus Estimated Annualized Earthquake Losses for the United States: FEMA P-366 highlights the impacts of both high hazard and high exposure on losses caused by earthquakes. The study is based on loss estimates generated by Hazus, a geographic information system (GIS)-based earthquake loss estimation tool developed by FEMA.
Wildfire:
Decreasing Risk of Structure-to-Structure Fire Spread in a Wildfire: This document provides recommendations to contractors and designers on new building construction that may prevent or slow the spread of a fire from structure-to-structure in densely-spaced neighborhoods.
Homeowner’s Guide to Reducing Risk of Structure Ignition from Wildfire: This document provides homeowners with steps they can take now to decrease the likelihood their homes will ignite due to direct flame contact, ember intrusion, or hot gases from wildfires at various physical vulnerabilities throughout the exterior envelope of the house.
Wildfire-Resilient Detailing, Joint Systems and Interfaces of Building Components: This document provides information on ways to reduce the vulnerability of residential structures to wildfire ignition due to windborne embers, hot gases, and flames penetrating common detailing joints and building component interfaces that exist throughout the exterior envelope of a building.
Homeowner’s Guide to Reducing Wildfire Risk Through Defensible Space: This document provides homeowners with steps they can take now to protect their homes from loss or damage from wildfires due to vulnerabilities introduced by surrounding landscaping and other exterior features within the homeowner’s property.
Homeowner’s Guide to Risk Reduction and Remediation of Residential Smoke Damage: This document provides recommendations to homeowners for pre-wildfire measures to help reduce the risk of smoke damage and do-it-yourself (DIY) steps that homeowners can take to remediate light to moderate smoke damage.
Marshall Fire MAT: Best Practices for Wildfire-Resilient Subdivision Planning: This document provides builders/contractors, planning professionals, HOAs, and local land resource managers with information about wildfire resiliency planning and open-space management policies, best practices, and procedures at subdivision- and neighborhood-scales.
Marshall Fire MAT: Mitigation Strategies to Address Multi-Hazard Events: This document is intended to help planners, developers, local land management personnel and private property owners identify how wildfires interact with other natural hazards and mitigate the impact of these multi-hazard events.
Hurricane:
Hurricane Ida DRRA Section 1206 Implementation Case Study: This study reviews the implementation of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA) Section 1206 Policy implemented after Hurricane Ida in Louisiana (DR-4611) and shares the lessons learned for future state, local, tribal, and territorial governments looking to implement this type of project.
Building the Case for Open Space (Foundations): This guidance compares the two predominant construction foundation systems available in South Louisiana and provides greater detail regarding their costs, impacts, and advantages.
New Videos:
New Building Code Adoption Playbook Videos
New On-Demand Training for Rapid Visual Screening of Buildings for Potential Seismic Hazards
National Dam Safety Program Strategic Plan: Fiscal Years
2024 -2029
FEMA’s National Dam Safety Program (NDSP) just released the Fiscal Year 2024-2029 National Dam Safety Program Strategic Plan.
Developed in partnership with the Interagency Committee on Dam Safety (ICODS) and the National Dam Safety Review Board (NDSRB), this five-year strategy focuses on results for the NDSP to reduce risks to life, property, and the environment from dam failure by guiding public policy and leveraging industry best practices across the dam safety community.
It also builds the foundation for what the program will look like in five years to ensure the benefits and risks of dams are understood and managed equitably, enhancing public safety, national security, and the environment while adapting to climate change.
NDSP is a partnership of states, federal agencies and other stakeholders to encourage and promote the establishment and maintenance of effective federal and state dam safety programs to reduce the risk to human life, property, and the environment from dam related hazards.
The program has two advisory committees to include: ICODS and the NDSRB.
ICODS was founded in 1980 to encourage the establishment and maintenance of effective federal programs, policies, and guidelines to enhance dam safety and security. The committee serves as the permanent forum for the coordination of federal activities in dam safety and security. FEMA also chairs this committee. ICODS membership includes representatives from the following federal agencies:
- FEMA
- U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE)
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
- U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
- Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture/Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA/NRCS)
- U.S. Department of Energy (DoE)
- U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
- Department of Labor/Mine Safety and Health Administration (DOL – MSHA)
- U.S. Section, International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC)
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
NDSRB advises FEMA’s Administrator in setting national dam safety priorities and considers the effects of national policy issues affecting dam safety. Review Board members include FEMA, the Chair of the Board, representatives from four federal agencies that serve on ICODS, five state dam safety officials, and one member from the private sector. NDSRB membership includes representatives from the following federal agencies:
- FEMA
- U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE)
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture/Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA/NRCS)
- U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
- Five Rotating State Representatives
- Private Sector Representative
To view/download the National Dam Safety Program Strategic Plan: Fiscal Years 2024 -2029, visit: National Dam Safety Program Strategic Plan (fema.gov)
FEMA Publishing 2023 FEMA Acronyms, Abbreviations and Terms Book
FEMA is publishing an update to the FEMA Acronyms, Abbreviations and Terms – A Capability Assurance Job and Field Aid.
The “FAAT Book”, as it is known, is a comprehensive list of FEMA and emergency management-related acronyms, terms and abbreviations.
The updated FEMA Acronyms, Abbreviations and Terms – A Capability Assurance Job and Field Aid will be published online at https://www.fema.gov/about/
FEMA will not publish hard copies of the 2023 update.
FEMA Releases Updated Local Mitigation Planning Handbook
The Local Mitigation Planning Handbook is a plain-language tool to help local governments develop or update hazard mitigation plans. It gives guidance, case studies, definitions and resources that help make mitigation planning easier.
Hazard mitigation plans are blueprints to build resilient communities. Plans pinpoint natural hazard risks and vulnerabilities in the planning area. Then planners develop strategies to reduce these risks and vulnerabilities.
On April 19, 2023, the new Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide went into effect. The updated Handbook provides more details on ways to develop mitigation plans that meet the policy and regulatory requirements.
Updates to the Handbook include new material on how to plan for climate change and other future conditions. The Handbook also covers how to create more equitable outcomes through mitigation planning. The Handbook is a resource anyone can use. It is great for local governments and planning teams with any level of knowledge.
FEMA’s National Mitigation Planning Program supports state, local, tribal and territory governments with risk-based mitigation planning to reduce or eliminate risks to life and property from natural hazards. The program focuses on building resilience through early and often stakeholder engagement, integration with community planning, and implementation of mitigation actions. For more information, visit Hazard Mitigation Planning | FEMA.gov.
FEMA releases Third Edition of the Building Codes Toolkit for Homeowners and Occupants
The Building Codes Toolkit offers basic guidance and tools to help homeowners and occupants learn about building codes and how they can make their homes more resilient against natural hazards.
This version of the FEMA Building Codes Toolkit includes updates to documents from the previous editions of the Toolkit, as well as new documents that will help readers better understand building codes and how they work.
The Toolkit can be read as one publication or a series of separate documents to give readers information specific to their needs.
Step-by-step guidance and background information are provided to help readers make informed decisions about building codes. Readers will also learn the importance of building codes and how to ensure they are incorporated into their building or project.
The FEMA Building Codes Toolkit can help homeowners and occupants become one step closer to living in a safer and more resilient community.
Learn more about how you can support the adoption and use of natural hazard-resistant building codes and standards: Building Science Resource Library | FEMA.gov
FEMA-USGS Study Highlights Economic Earthquake Risk in the United States
Download the study: FEMA_p366 Hazus Estimated Annualized Earthquake Losses United States
Earthquakes are estimated to cost the nation $14.7 billion annually in building damage and associated losses according to a new report published jointly by the FEMA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) at the annual Seismological Society of America meeting. The new estimate represents a twofold growth over previous estimates due to increased building value, incorporation of the latest hazard and improvements in building inventory.
April 18 marks 117 years since the Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. A repeat of such an event today could cost more than $165 billion in building loss alone.
As compared to the previous studies in 2001, 2008 and 2017, the estimated ratio of building loss to overall building value has consistently decreased throughout the western states indicating progress in reducing building vulnerability thanks to the efforts of the National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program (NEHRP) partner agencies.
Estimating the varying degree of earthquake risk is a priority of NEHRP and critical for informed decision making on mitigation policies, priorities, strategies, and funding levels in the public and private sectors. USGS science on earthquake hazards and FEMA’s latest Hazus 6.0 loss estimation software release were critical components of this analysis. This update includes a significant nationwide effort to improve earthquake hazard data and the baseline building exposure data now valued at $107.8 trillion that benefited from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) National Structure Inventory.
Although most economic loss is concentrated along the west coast, the distribution of relative earthquake risk, as measured by the Annualized Earthquake Loss Ratio (AELR), is spread throughout the country and it reinforces the fact that earthquakes are a national problem. The AELR expresses estimated annualized loss as a fraction of the building inventory replacement value as shown in figure above.
Annualized loss is derived from combining earthquake hazard, building exposure, and vulnerability, and thus it represents a long-term average; however, the recent earthquake sequence in Türkiye and Syria has further highlighted the extent of sudden and catastrophic impacts from large earthquakes.
FEMA Releases the Updated Wind Retrofit Guide (FEMA P-804)
FEMA is pleased to announce the updated release of FEMA P-804, Wind Retrofit Guide for Residential Buildings in Hurricane-Prone Regions available at: https://www.fema.gov/
FEMA P-804 summarizes the technical information needed for selecting and implementing cost-effective wind retrofit projects for existing one- and two-family dwellings in the hurricane-prone region of the US and its territories. The 2nd Edition of FEMA P-804 (last published in 2010) provides clarified and updated guidance based on lessons learned over the past 13 years of post-hurricane damage assessments and advances in wind engineering. Although this publication references guidance for one- and two-family dwellings in the hurricane-prone region, much of this guidance could also be applicable to non-coastal areas subject to high winds.
FEMA P-804 continues to present mitigation measures in three successive Mitigation Packages: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced.
Key changes to FEMA P-804 include:
- The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) 2020 FORTIFIED Home Standard (IBHS, 2020) is being used as a reference.
- The FEMA P-804 Mitigation Package requirements have been updated to meet or exceed the criteria of the respective 2020 FORTIFIED HomeTM Hurricane designations for existing homes.
- Any additional FEMA requirements which are more conservative than FORTIFIED 2020 will be noted to be “FEMA Grant Requirements.”
FEMA P-804 references the latest edition of ASCE 7, Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures (ASCE/SEI 7-22) and the soon to be published 2024 model building codes from the International Code Council (expected summer 2024).
While this publication outlines minimum technical and performance-based grant requirements for wind retrofits, refer to the latest edition of FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program and Policy Guide (HMA Guide) for the most current FEMA policy statement on residential wind retrofit and HMA grants implementation requirements. See: https://www.fema.gov/grants/
For more information on building science, visit fema.gov/building-science.
Report Explores Three Ways to Transform Flood Risk Management
The latest report in the Rethinking Flood series from Marsh McLennan, Staying Above Water: A Systemic Response to Rising Flood Risk explores how the transformation of flood risk management can play out along three ways forward: Living with floods, building strategic protection, and preparing for relocation.
Underpinned by new data from the Marsh McLennan Flood Risk Index, the report first discusses risk drivers, escalating impacts, and inadequacies of current risk management strategies — offering a strong rationale for urgent action. It then sets out guiding principles for resilience and presents examples of innovative strategies from different geographies to illustrate how the transformation can be realized. The report concludes with a call to action by proposing concrete steps to overcome inertia and mobilize stakeholder action by leveraging critical enablers across governance and risk culture, land use and infrastructure, finance, and insurance.
Download Staying Above Water: A Systemic Response to Rising Flood Risk.
Catch up on previous reports in the series:
Sunk Costs: The Socioeconomic Impacts of Flooding is the first report in the series, analyzing the current state of flood risk globally, its economic and societal consequences, and the role of insurance in protecting the most vulnerable.
Preparing for a Wetter World: Strategies for Corporate Flood Resilience explores the implications of flood risk for businesses and discusses how firms can reimagine their approach to flood risk management in the context of climate change, growing business complexity, and stakeholder management.
Building Community Resilience with Nature-Based Solutions
FEMA published a new report: Building Community Resilience with Nature-Based Solutions. It highlights five key strategies for implementing successful nature-based solution projects to advance natural hazard mitigation and climate adaptation:
- Building Strong Partnerships
- Engaging the Whole Community
- Matching Project Size With Desired Goals and Benefits
- Maximizing Benefits
- Designing for the Future
New Elevation Certificate Fact Sheet
Last month FEMA published a new Elevation Certificate fact sheet for property owners. This fact sheet explains how an Elevation Certificate is useful in the new Risk Rating 2.0 insurance premium rating methodology, how it is used for construction and regulatory purposes, and how to obtain an Elevation Certificate. Download fact sheet
Resilience Matters from Island Press Urban Resilience Project
Island Press e-book offers climate resilient solutions for building a greener, fairer future
For those who care about sustainability and equity, 2022 brought plenty of good news. Through the Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, American Rescue Plan, and the Biden Administration’s Justice40 initiative, money is—finally—flowing to climate change mitigation and resilience in hard-hit communities.
But the devil, as they say, is in the details. Now that more funding is available, it’s important to make sure it is spent wisely and goes where it’s needed most. In 2022, contributors to the Island Press Urban Resilience Project (URP) dug into the details, devising concrete plans for collective action to build a greener, fairer future. Those ideas—originally published as articles, op-eds, and interviews—have now been collected in the latest edition of our e-book series Resilience Matters, available below at no cost.
Download Resilience Matters: Resilience Matters: Collective Action for Healthier Communities
USGS Mobile Flood Tool
The U.S. Geological Survey released a mobile tool that provides real-time information on water levels, weather, and flood forecasts all in one place. The new USGS National Water Dashboard will help inform forecasting, response, and recovery efforts for agencies such as the National Weather Service, FEMA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other federal, state and local agencies.
What is the FEMA App
Take Charge of Disasters The FEMA App is your personalized disaster resource, so you feel empowered and ready to take charge of any disaster life throws your way.
PLAN: Learn how to prepare for common hazards quickly and easily.
Whether you’re experienced or just starting out, the FEMA App can help you learn basic preparedness strategies like how to create a family emergency communication plan, what to pack in your emergency kit, and what to do immediately after a disaster.
PROTECT: Knowing when and how to protect yourself, your loved ones and your property during a disaster can make all the difference.
With the FEMA App, you can receive real-time weather and emergency alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations nationwide. It can also help you find a nearby shelter if you need to evacuate to a safe space.
Download the FEMA App
Get it on Google Play
Download it on Apple Store.
You can also download the app via text messaging. On an Android device, text ANDROID to 43362 (4FEMA); On an Apple Device, text APPLE to 43362 (4FEMA).

TEXT FOR HELP
To search for shelters near you, text SHELTER and your ZIP code to 43362 (e.g. Shelter 12345). You may look up shelters any time through the American Red Cross shelter map or by downloading the FEMA App.
Safety Tips – To sign up to receive general information about how to prepare for any type of disaster, text PREPARE to 43362. To sign up for disaster specific safety tips, text one of the keywords below to 43362:
- BLACKOUT
- EARTHQUAKE
- FIRE
- FLOOD
- TORNADO
- WILDFIRE
- WINTER
Now on the FEMA App: Fill Your Digital Backpack Today
![]()
You may already have an emergency kit at home or a go-bag in your car with supplies like water, flashlights, and a first aid kit. But did you know you can also safeguard important electronic documents—property deeds, insurance documents, medical records and more—in FEMA’s new digital backpack? Having digital backups of your important physical documents means that you’ll have the information to replace them should you need to. That’s where the digital backpack comes in. Easy steps to create a digital backpack are now on the FEMA app, available from the Apple App Store or on Google Play. Once you’ve downloaded the app, look for the Prepare icon at the bottom of the screen. Tap the A-Z tab and then Emergency Plans, Kits & Checklists. Scroll down to Digital Backpack. The app then takes you step by step through the process of creating a digital backpack, from gathering documents to showing you how to store these documents online to keeping them updated. Once you’re done, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you have access to documents you may need during an emergency. |
Mitigation Matters!
Have questions? Contact us at help@kymitigation.org.
KAMM mailing address: KAMM, PO Box 1016, Frankfort, KY 40602-1016.
Don’t forget to join the KAMM group on LinkedIn and Facebook.
KAMM is a non-profit 501 (c) (3)