CHMS CHMS Funding & Grant Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which FEMA grant program provides funding to states and communities for hazard mitigation BEFORE a disaster occurs?
- Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
- Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant Program (Correct answer)
- Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Grant Program
- Bricks and Mortar Infrastructure Grant
Correct answer: Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant Program
The PDM program provides annual funding for hazard mitigation planning and projects without requiring a federal disaster declaration.
Question 2: What is the standard federal cost-share ratio for HMGP projects under the Robert T. Stafford Act?
- 50% federal / 50% non-federal
- 75% federal / 25% non-federal (Correct answer)
- 90% federal / 10% non-federal
- 100% federal funding
Correct answer: 75% federal / 25% non-federal
HMGP typically provides 75% federal funding with a 25% non-federal match requirement.
Question 3: Which criterion MUST be met for a hazard mitigation project to be eligible for federal funding under FEMA grant programs?
- The project must be located in a coastal zone
- The project must be cost-effective, as demonstrated by a Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) (Correct answer)
- The project must only address flood hazards
- The project must be submitted within 30 days of a disaster declaration
Correct answer: The project must be cost-effective, as demonstrated by a Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA)
FEMA requires a Benefit-Cost Analysis showing a ratio of 1.0 or greater to demonstrate cost-effectiveness before approving mitigation grant funding.
Question 4: What does a Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) of 1.5 indicate for a proposed mitigation project?
- The project costs 50% more than similar past projects
- The project benefits are 1.5 times greater than the project costs, meeting federal eligibility (Correct answer)
- The project will be completed 1.5 years ahead of schedule
- The project requires a 50% local match
Correct answer: The project benefits are 1.5 times greater than the project costs, meeting federal eligibility
A BCR of 1.5 means the projected future benefits (avoided losses) are 1.5 times the total project cost, exceeding FEMA's minimum threshold of 1.0.
Question 5: Which FEMA tool is the standardized software used to calculate Benefit-Cost Analysis for hazard mitigation grant applications?
- HAZUS-MH
- FEMA BCA Toolkit (Correct answer)
- E-Grants Portal
- BSIR (Benefit-to-Society Impact Report)
Correct answer: FEMA BCA Toolkit
The FEMA BCA Toolkit is the agency's approved software for calculating benefit-cost ratios required for mitigation grant applications.
Question 6: Which entity is typically the 'sub-applicant' in a FEMA hazard mitigation grant application?
- FEMA regional office
- Local governments, tribes, or certain private nonprofits applying through the state (Correct answer)
- Federal agencies other than FEMA
- Insurance companies funding mitigation projects
Correct answer: Local governments, tribes, or certain private nonprofits applying through the state
In FEMA grant programs, states or territories are the applicants, while local governments and tribes apply as sub-applicants through them.
CHMS CHMS Funding & Grant Management 1
Which FEMA grant program provides funding to states and communities for hazard mitigation BEFORE a disaster occurs?