Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is a FEMA-funded program designed to reduce or eliminate future damages and loss following a disaster.
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is federally funded but managed by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety’s Division of Emergency Management.
Watch the video below first and complete the HMGP Homeowner Interest Form.
After you receive your email response, if you still have questions, feel free to call the HMGP Information Line at 919.873.5888
As a property owner, HMGP can potentially help with mitigation methods such as structure elevation, structural reinforcement and the buyout of damaged properties.
How To Apply?
Homeowners may withdraw their application at any time but must follow these three steps to apply:
- Complete the 5-minute Grant Information Request.
- After receiving an email from a Hazard Mitigation team member, complete and return the application as instructed in the email.
- Be approved by the local government (town or county) for inclusion in their application to FEMA.
Homeowner Application Tips:
The first step in this process is completing an application and collecting the information needed to assess your project. When you sign the homeowner’s application, please ensure all owners shown on the property deed have signed the application. FEMA will not approve it unless all parties listed on the deed have signed the application. Along with the Homeowner Application you will need to collect the following items for consideration:
- Flood Insurance information (if available) including past claims.
- Photos of the property (front, back, each side and 1 street view) - Photo Instructions
Who Is Eligible to Apply?
The local government is the eligible applicant for this program. After the initial homeowner intake, our team works with the local governments (county or town) to complete the application and fully understand the grant program and timeframe. The most heavily affected counties from Helene (in green below) are receiving additional assistance in helping homeowners complete their applications. The schedule below shows the dates and locations for when the HMGP Team will offer in-person assistance throughout the region.
Homeowner HMGP Hotline: (919) 873-5888
HMGP For Local Governments
North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) Hazard Mitigation (HM) Section is now accepting Letters of Interest (LOIs) for personal home properties, land stabilization and community infrastructure mitigation projects from qualified sub-applicants to be considered and evaluated for inclusion in the State’s application submission to FEMA for Tropical Storm Helene Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) DR-4827-NC.
DR-4827 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)
North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) Hazard Mitigation (HM) Section is now accepting Letters of Interest (LOIs) for both personal home properties and community infrastructure mitigation projects from qualified sub-applicants to be considered and evaluated for inclusion in the State’s application submission to FEMA for Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 (PTC 8) Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) DR-4837-NC.
DR-4837 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)
What Type of Project Is Eligible for Funding?
Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to:
- Retrofitting methods such as elevation in place
- Acquisition of property and/or relocation of homes, businesses, and public facilities.
- Structural hazard control or protection measures such as flood walls, detention basins and other storm drainage upgrades.
- Generators that protect critical facilities such as shelters, hospitals and emergency response locations. (funding limited)
- Projects that mitigate the risk of a natural hazard to public infrastructure.
The process for applying for HMGP funds begins at the county level with each county’s Emergency Manager. The county alone determines which eligible mitigation projects will be placed on their project priority list. They use this list to track and organize projects from across their county that they want to submit for funding consideration for the HMGP. If you would like to request that an eligible mitigation project be added to your county’s project priority list, then please use the county contact list to get in touch with them.
Step One - How to Submit an LOI
For infrastructure projects, now through May 30, 2025, we are accepting a short form submission by email to gauge eligibility and offer individual funding guidance. Simply upload your two PowerPoint slides using our LOI Slide Template as described in the LOI instructions. There is also a 10-minute tutorial called How to Make Your PowerPoint Slides. Email your completed slides to Kaine.Riggan@ncdps.gov no later than May 30, 2025.
For LOI submissions after May 30, 2025:
- Read the DR-4827 NOFA and watch the 14-minute “HMGP for Local Governments” webinar.
- Register for an account or login at the NCEM Salesforce Portal. Watch the 10-minute Salesforce set-up tutorial video.
* Note: if you are setting up a new account in Salesforce, you must email steven.jackson@ncdps.gov after you complete the NEW USER set-up request so he can complete your Salesforce registration. If you are not a city/county employee, please copy your contacts at the city/county in the email request to confirm the eligible applicant’s consent. - Answer the 7 narrative questions on the LOI form in Salesforce.
- For infrastructure projects, upload your 3 PowerPoint slides using our LOI Slide Template as described in the LOI instructions. There is also a 10-minute tutorial called How to Make Your PowerPoint Slides. Slides are not needed for residential acquisitions and elevations – instead upload your completed PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT SPREADSHEET as the “OTHER” attachment in Salesforce. You can find separate development spreadsheet templates for acquisitions and elevations on our RESOURCES TAB.
- Submit your completed LOI as early as possible, but no later than Friday, October 31, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Infrastructure applications will include a benefit cost analysis (BCA) and many of the other components outlined in following the infrastructure guidance at www.NCDPS.gov/BRIC. Additional instructions for submitting a full application will be provided in June after the panel review of the projects submitted in the first round of LOI slide submissions, due May 21.
Advance Assistance Applications:
An Advance Assistance application under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) provides funding to help communities develop a specific, shovel-ready mitigation project. Eligible uses include preliminary engineering, environmental review, cost estimating, and benefit-cost analysis—but the application must clearly identify the specific mitigation construction activity it is intended to support. Advance Assistance does not fund construction itself, but it strengthens and expedites future HMGP construction applications.
Email your completed application and required attachments to Kaine.Riggan@ncdps.gov as soon as possible. This is a rolling application period with no set deadline, but the goal is to complete your deliverables in time to submit your construction project during this same funding cycle.
Development Team Contacts:
Steve McGugan, State Hazard Mitigation Officer Steve.McGugan@ncdps.gov
Steven Jackson, Deputy HM Section Chief Steven.Jackson@ncdps.gov
Jason Pleasant, Development Supervisor Jason.Pleasant@ncdps.gov
Kaine Riggan, Infrastructure Lead, Kaine.Riggan@ncdps.gov
Portia Baldwin, Grants Development Specialist, Portia.Baldwin@ncdps.gov
Jennifer Lewis, Grants Development Specialist, Jennifer.Lewis@ncdps.gov