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Programs & Services  

Hazard Mitigation Programs

Often called the cornerstone of emergency management, hazard mitigation is any sustained effort that protects people and property from the impacts of disasters and allows communities to provide critical services during emergencies.

Hazard mitigation projects:

• keep home construction away from floodplains
• floodproof vulnerable structures
• install shutters on buildings to protect them from high winds
• create and enforce effective zoning and building codes
• elevate homes and equipment to keep them above flood waters
• support implementation of flood monitoring systems, reverse 911, technical assistance, and education

The Enhanced All-Hazard Mitigation Plan (Volume 2, Support Annex 3 of the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Operations Plan) directs the state's hazard mitigation plan, as well as local, regional and university mitigation plans. The program consists of four distinct activities:

• Hazard Mitigation Grants
• Hazard Mitigation Planning
• Technical Support, Workshops and Education; and
• Disaster Recovery

Hazard Mitigation Grants

Virginia state agencies, colleges, universities, local governments and some private nonprofit organizations are eligible for mitigation grants. FEMA now has five hazard mitigation grant programs directed by the Robert T. Stafford Act, the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, the Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 and through 44 Code of Federal Regulations. Four of the programs are available through set financial allocations to the Commonwealth or are nationally competitive if Congress allocates funds annually. The fifth grant program is the post-disaster Hazard Mitigation Grant Program directed by the Robert T. Stafford Act and 44 CFR. All FEMA/Commonwealth Mitigation grant programs are administered by VDEM Mitigation Program Staff. VDEM serves as the grant applicant to FEMA; local governments, state agencies, state colleges and universities, and other eligible applicants apply as “sub-grantee” applicants through VDEM. Grant program details may be found in the Grants Information section of this Web site.