The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management has awarded the City of Conway a $155,000.00 through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). HMGP provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures following a major disaster declaration.

The City of Conway plans to use the funds to conduct a flood drainage study for downtown Conway, which is prone to flash flooding, and will result in the development of a mitigation strategy to reduce flooding.

HMGP grants help fund a variety of new projects that reduce hazard vulnerability and the potential for future damage, within the limits of state and federal guidelines.

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) is authorized by Section 404 of the Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. 5170c. The key purpose of HMGP is to ensure that the opportunity to take critical mitigation measures to reduce the risk of loss of life and property from future disasters is not lost during the reconstruction process following a disaster.

HMGP funding is available, when authorized under a Presidential major disaster declaration, in the areas of the State requested by the Governor. Federally-recognized tribes may also submit a request for a Presidential major disaster declaration within their impacted areas (see http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/85146). The amount of HMGP funding available to the Applicant is based on the estimated total Federal assistance, subject to the sliding scale formula outlined in Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 206.432(b) that FEMA provides for disaster recovery under Presidential major disaster declarations. The formula provides for up to 15 percent of the first $2 billion of estimated aggregate amounts of disaster assistance, up to 10 percent for amounts between $2 billion and $10 billion, and up to 7.5 percent for amounts between $10 billion and $35.333 billion. For States with enhanced plans, the eligible assistance is up to 20 percent for estimated aggregate amounts of disaster assistance not to exceed $35.333 billion.

The Period of Performance (POP) for HMGP begins with the opening of the application period and ends no later than 36 months from the close of the application period.

State of Arkansas Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

The goal of the program is to assist local jurisdictions that have suffered repetitive disaster losses. This grant is a 75/25 match were the state reimburses 75% of the project cost to the local jurisdiction up to $300,000. The remaining project cost must come from local funds. This program will fund permanent, long-term solution to repetitive problems.

Eligible project examples include: replacing low water crossings and existing bridges with an elevated bridge, installing or upsizing culverts, critical infrastructure retrofits to reduce natural hazard risk, soil stabilization, construction of retention and detention basins, and other activities that reduce risk from natural hazards within the jurisdiction.

Ineligible project examples include: warning sirens, projects solely for the prevention of washouts, maintenance projects (i.e. culvert and ditch clean out, road resurfacing or repair, levee maintenance), projects located on private property, projects located on federally owned property, projects where work has already begun.