The federal government encourages jurisdictions and homeowners whose property suffered damage in a disaster to consider proactive measures during the repair and restoration process that will prevent the same damage from occurring in the future. This, in essence, is mitigation support: improving the pre-disaster design to minimize or prevent damage in the future.
Hagerty has extensive experience in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) awarded under the FEMA Public Assistance (PA) Program through Sections 404 and 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act). As we consider mitigation at all levels, it is important to note that a comprehensive hazard mitigation plan in place prior to a disaster allows for state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments to be eligible for certain types of non-emergency disaster assistance. The preparation is worth the effort: a strong hazard mitigation plan combined with help navigating Sections 404 and 406 of the Stafford Act immediately provides Hagerty clients with a head start after a disaster.
Hagerty Can Help
Hagerty’s expertise is expansive. Our experience with Section 428 of the Stafford Act dates to the inception of the ‘Alternative Procedures’ pilot program. Hagerty has utilized Section 428 to support maximum flexibility for mitigation scopes and offer our clients the benefit of potential underruns for additional mitigation work. We leverage FEMA Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) experts to craft arguments for our clients which result in successful project funding and reduce future damages. In addition, Hagerty professionals have successfully implemented the use of Section 407 of the Stafford Act for the removal of private property purchased under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). This has resulted in the effective removal of substantially damaged properties from the floodplain and cost savings for local communities.
Mitigation is all about visualizing a better future than the one you see today. We want whatever you build tomorrow to be better and stronger than what was damaged yesterday. Our professionals have extensive experience coming up with creative proposals to improve a damaged structure. We know how to pull together the right experts to build a case, provide the documentation, and work within the federal process so the process is efficient and error-free.
