NEWS RELEASE: FEMA approves Hazard Mitigation Grant Program with over $24.7 million available to State of Hawaiʻi
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Hawai’i Emergency Management Agency
DAVID Y. IGE
GOVERNOR
MAJOR GENERAL KENNETH S. HARA
DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
LUKE P. MEYERS
ADMINISTRATOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
FEMA approves Hazard Mitigation Grant Program with over $24.7 million available to State of Hawaiʻi
HONOLULU – The result of COVID-19 on the State has significantly affected the life safety and livelihoods of Hawaiʻi residents. This is true across the nation and around the globe as the virus has created not only health concerns, but longlasting economic impacts.
To that end, President Biden has authorized, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide more than $3.46 billion to increase resilience to the impacts of climate change nationwide through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). This significant investment will be available for natural hazard mitigation measures across the 59 major disaster declarations issued due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, a FEMA spokesperson said.
The total contribution authorized for the State of Hawaiʻi is $24, 740, 226. That amount is based on 4% of the estimated aggregate amount of Public Assistance for this disaster as of June 1, 2021 and it includes management costs pursuant to section 324 of the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5165b).
The Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) Resilience Branch will be working with FEMA and the State Hazard Mitigation Officer on the funding process and the program requirements.
“We are very pleased and grateful that FEMA has awarded the State of Hawaiʻi a Hazard Mitigation Grant in the amount of $24,740,226.00. The FEMA HMGP funds will reduce economic vulnerability and will directly combat the economic loss of COVID-19 by contributing to local job creation and building greater resilience for Hawaiʻi’s counties by reducing ongoing hazards such as sea level rise, extreme weather, droughts and wildfires,” HI-EMA Resilience Brach Chief Lorinda Wong Lau said.
State Hazard Mitigation Officer Theresa Woznick added that Hazard Mitigation is a cost effective investment that saves $6 on average for every $1 spent, according to an analysis by the National Institute of Building Sciences.
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Contact:
Douglas Carroll
Public Information Officer (TA)
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808-285-1516
Hollie Reina
Public Relations Specialist HI-EMA
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808-620-5423
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