FEMA Disaster Recovery & Mitigation — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the National Disaster Recovery Framework, which federal agency coordinates the Housing Recovery Support Function?
- Department of Housing and Urban Development (Correct answer)
- Small Business Administration
- FEMA
- Department of Agriculture
Correct answer: Department of Housing and Urban Development
HUD is the coordinating agency for the Housing RSF under the NDRF.
Question 2: Which Stafford Act section authorizes the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)?
- Section 406
- Section 404 (Correct answer)
- Section 408
- Section 403
Correct answer: Section 404
Section 404 authorizes HMGP funding for mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration.
Question 3: A county wants HMGP project funding after a major disaster. What planning requirement must it meet?
- A FEMA-approved and adopted local hazard mitigation plan (Correct answer)
- A completed THIRA submitted within 30 days
- A certified Community Rating System Class 5 rating
- An approved Continuity of Operations plan
Correct answer: A FEMA-approved and adopted local hazard mitigation plan
44 CFR Part 201 requires an approved local mitigation plan for HMGP project grants.
Question 4: In FEMA Public Assistance, debris removal falls under which work category?
- Category B
- Category C
- Category A (Correct answer)
- Category E
Correct answer: Category A
Category A is debris removal, and Category B is emergency protective measures.
Question 5: Under NFIP floodplain management rules, a structure is 'substantially damaged' when the cost to restore it equals or exceeds what share of its market value?
- 25%
- 33%
- 75%
- 50% (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 50%
Substantial damage occurs when restoration costs equal or exceed 50% of the structure's pre-damage market value.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes Stafford Act Section 406 hazard mitigation?
- Funding to reduce future damage to a facility while it is being repaired under Public Assistance (Correct answer)
- Statewide grants for mitigation not tied to damaged facilities
- Annual competitive pre-disaster mitigation grants
- Flood insurance claim payments for elevation
Correct answer: Funding to reduce future damage to a facility while it is being repaired under Public Assistance
Section 406 mitigation is part of a PA permanent repair project and covers the damaged parts of an eligible facility.
Question 7: For HMGP purposes, what minimum benefit-cost ratio (BCR) normally shows that a project is cost-effective?
- 0.75
- 1.0 (Correct answer)
- 1.5
- 2.0
Correct answer: 1.0
A BCR of 1.0 or more means projected benefits equal or exceed project costs.
Question 8: A homeowner's NFIP-insured house is declared substantially damaged. Which NFIP coverage helps pay to elevate or otherwise bring it into compliance?
- Additional Living Expense coverage
- Increased Cost of Compliance coverage (Correct answer)
- Contents replacement coverage
- Loss of Use coverage
Correct answer: Increased Cost of Compliance coverage
Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) pays up to $30,000 toward elevation, floodproofing, relocation or demolition.
Question 9: When a property is bought out with HMGP funds, how must the land be used afterward?
- It may be resold for commercial development after 10 years
- It must be deed-restricted to open space uses in perpetuity (Correct answer)
- It must be transferred to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- It may be rebuilt if the new structure is elevated
Correct answer: It must be deed-restricted to open space uses in perpetuity
Acquired properties must stay open space permanently, consistent with floodplain functions.
Question 10: Which agency coordinates the Economic Recovery Support Function under the NDRF?
- Department of the Treasury
- Small Business Administration
- Department of Commerce (Correct answer)
- Department of Labor
Correct answer: Department of Commerce
The Department of Commerce coordinates the Economic RSF.
Question 11: What is the standard maximum federal cost share for most HMGP projects?
- 50%
- 75% (Correct answer)
- 90%
- 100%
Correct answer: 75%
HMGP generally funds up to 75% of eligible costs, with a 25% non-federal match.
Question 12: How often must a local hazard mitigation plan be reviewed, revised and resubmitted for FEMA approval to stay eligible?
- Every 3 years
- Every 5 years (Correct answer)
- Every 7 years
- Every 10 years
Correct answer: Every 5 years
44 CFR 201.6 requires local plans to be updated every five years.
Question 13: In the Community Rating System, what does a Class 1 community receive compared with a Class 10 community?
- No change in premiums
- A 45% flood insurance premium discount (Correct answer)
- A 10% premium surcharge
- Automatic eligibility for 100% HMGP funding
Correct answer: A 45% flood insurance premium discount
Each CRS class step gives a 5% discount, so Class 1 earns the maximum 45%.
Question 14: Which mission area core capability focuses on lasting actions that reduce how vulnerable people, property and infrastructure are to hazards?
- Operational Coordination
- Long-term Vulnerability Reduction (Correct answer)
- Infrastructure Systems
- Mass Care Services
Correct answer: Long-term Vulnerability Reduction
Long-term Vulnerability Reduction is a Mitigation mission area core capability focused on lasting risk reduction.
Question 15: Under NFIP definitions, a 'repetitive loss' structure has received how many flood claims of more than $1,000 within any rolling 10-year period?
- One
- Two or more (Correct answer)
- Four or more
- Ten or more
Correct answer: Two or more
Two or more NFIP claims of more than $1,000 within 10 years make a property a repetitive loss property.
Question 16: Which Stafford Act section bars federal assistance that duplicates benefits already available from insurance or other sources?
- Section 312 (Correct answer)
- Section 316
- Section 401
- Section 502
Correct answer: Section 312
Section 312 bars duplication of benefits for the same loss.
Question 17: Which agency coordinates the Natural and Cultural Resources Recovery Support Function?
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Department of the Interior (Correct answer)
- National Endowment for the Arts
- Department of Agriculture
Correct answer: Department of the Interior
The Department of the Interior coordinates the Natural and Cultural Resources RSF.
Question 18: Public Assistance damage to a public library building and its equipment is classified under which category?
- Category C
- Category D
- Category E (Correct answer)
- Category G
Correct answer: Category E
Category E covers buildings, contents and equipment.
Question 19: Which law amended the Stafford Act to require state, local and tribal mitigation plans as a condition for certain mitigation funding?
- Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006
- Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Correct answer)
- Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013
- Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012
Correct answer: Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000
DMA 2000 added Section 322, which created the mitigation planning requirements.
Question 20: In an HMGP project, which official is usually responsible for administering subawards to local jurisdictions?
- Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator
- State Hazard Mitigation Officer acting for the recipient (Correct answer)
- FEMA Regional Administrator
- Local floodplain administrator
Correct answer: State Hazard Mitigation Officer acting for the recipient
The state (the recipient) manages HMGP, usually through the State Hazard Mitigation Officer, and passes funds to subrecipients.
Question 21: Which FEMA tool provides standardized, GIS-based loss estimates for earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and tsunamis?
- Hazus (Correct answer)
- WebEOC
- GrantsGo
- IPAWS
Correct answer: Hazus
Hazus is FEMA's nationally standardized methodology for estimating potential hazard losses.
FEMA Disaster Recovery & Mitigation
Under the National Disaster Recovery Framework, which federal agency coordinates the Housing Recovery Support Function?
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