Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Swift Current

Program objective

The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant program makes federal funds available to states, U.S. territories, federally recognized tribal governments, and local governments to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and within NFIP-participating communities. It does so by acknowledging the increasing flood hazards to communities, anticipated growth of damage and repetitive losses due to floods, and the need for flood hazard risk mitigation activities that reduce the NFIP’s financial exposure. The purpose of FMA Swift Current is to reduce or eliminate the flood risk of repetitive flood damage to structures and buildings insured by the NFIP following a flood-related disaster event, and to enhance community flood resilience within NFIP-participating communities. It does so by providing funding for mitigation opportunities immediately after a flood disaster event with the aim of delivering timely mitigation outcomes. FMA Swift Current funds Project Scoping that results in development of individual mitigation projects eligible under FMA Swift Current, and Individual Flood Mitigation Projects for Repetitive Loss (RL), Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL), or properties deemed Substantially Damaged by the local jurisdiction according to the jurisdiction’s floodplain management ordinance after the applicant’s disaster declaration period start date. FMA Swift Current aims to better align the delivery of FMA flood mitigation funding to the disaster survivor experience. Awards made through FMA Swift Current are funded with funds appropriated by the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2024, Pub. L. No. 118-47; and Division J, Title V of the IIJA, Pub. L. No. 117-58, 135 Stat. 1387–1388 (2021). FMA Swift Current aims to better align the delivery of FMA flood mitigation funding to the disaster survivor experience. Funds will be made available on a rolling basis to states, territories, and federally recognized tribal governments that receive a major disaster declaration for a flood-related disaster event and meet all other eligibility criteria. FMA Swift Current aims to streamline funding through disaster declaration and flood insurance claims-based eligibility criteria, minimized application periods, and narrowed project type eligibility to Individual Flood Mitigation Projects that are Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL), Repetitive Loss (RL), and Substantially Damaged (SD). This differs from the FMA grant opportunity, which has an annual grant cycle that funds a broader range of flood mitigation activities, which includes Capability and Capacity Building Activities, Localized Flood Risk Reduction Projects, and Individual Flood Mitigation Projects through a competitive selection process.

As published in the SAM.gov Assistance Listing.

Eligible applicants (program level)

• ✓U.S. Territory (or Possession) Government (including freely-associated states)
• ✓Federally Recognized Indian/Native American/Alaska Native Tribal Government
• ✓Tribal
• ✓U.S. State Government (including the District of Columbia)
• ✓Territorial
• ✓State

Each state, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, and federally recognized tribal government shall designate one agency to serve as the applicant for FMA Swift Current funding. The designee is strongly encouraged to conduct outreach with NFIP participating communities prior to and during the application process. Each applicant’s designated agency may submit only one FMA grant application to FEMA. Applicant Eligibility Criteria The applicant meets the FMA Swift Current activation criteria when: The applicant receives a major disaster declaration for a flood-related disaster event between June 1, 2025, and the disaster declaration deadline of May 31, 2026. A flood-related disaster event includes coastal storms, hurricanes, remnants of hurricanes, and floods; and the applicant meets at least one of the three conditions or the special consideration: The applicant has at least $1 million in prior NFIP flood insurance claims in the twelve months prior to the disaster declaration incident period start date; or The applicant has 500 or more NFIP flood insurance claims in the declared flood-related disaster event; or The applicant is a U.S. territory or a federally recognized tribal government applying directly to FEMA that has at least one (1) paid NFIP flood insurance claim submitted in the twelve months prior to the disaster incident start date or has at least one (1) NFIP-defined or FMA-defined SRL or RL property. Special Consideration: If the applicant receives a major disaster declaration for a flood-related disaster event between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026, but does not meet any of the three additional conditions listed above, the applicant may submit a request to their FEMA Regional Administrator (RA) for special consideration for FMA Swift Current within 60 days of the declared disaster. The applicant may submit a request to their FEMA RA by contacting the Regional Office contact listed at https://www.fema.gov/fema-regional-contacts. By submitting a request for special consideration for FMA Swift Current, the applicant certifies that any FMA Swift Current funding will align with the applicant's SRL, RL and SD plans and strategies. The FEMA RA will review requests to confirm that the applicant and circumstance align with the Region’s flood mitigation goals and will forward their recommendation to the FEMA Administrator for approval. If the request for special consideration for FMA Swift Current is approved, FEMA will provide an allocation of up to $5 million. All applicants must be participating in the NFIP, and not be withdrawn, on probation, or suspended. NFIP community status can be verified at https://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance/work-with-nfip/community-status-book. Structures eligible for Individual Flood Mitigation Projects must have an NFIP policy in effect prior to the opening of the application period and the policy must be maintained throughout the life of the structure. The requirement of maintaining flood insurance shall apply during the life of the property, regardless of transfer of ownership of such property. Applicants are required to have a FEMA-approved State Hazard Mitigation Plan or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan in accordance with Title 44 of the (C.F.R.) Part 201 at the time of application and at the time of obligation of the award. All applicants must submit their FMA Swift Current grant applications to FEMA via FEMA GO. Sub applicants Communities, including local governments, cities, townships, counties, special district governments, and tribal governments who choose to apply are considered sub applicants and must submit sub applications to their applicant agency. Federally recognized Indian/Native American Tribal Governments who directly apply will be considered applicants. Certain political subdivisions may apply and act as sub applicants if they are part of a community participating in the NFIP where the political subdivision provides zoning and building code enforcement or planning and community development professional services for that community. Sub applications under which two or more entities would carry out the award are eligible; however, only one entity may be the sub applicant with primary responsibility for carrying out the award. All sub applicants must participate in the NFIP, and not be withdrawn, on probation, or suspended. Sub applicants are required to have a FEMA-approved Local or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan in accordance with 44 C.F.R. Part 201 at the time of application and at the time of obligation of grant funds. Mitigation plan integration, while not required to be eligible for FMA, is encouraged. Local hazard mitigation plans must conform to the Local Plan Review Guide, or any subsequent local mitigation planning guide that supersedes it.

Intended beneficiaries: State, Federally Recognized Indian/Native American/Alaska Native Tribal Government, U.S. State Government (including the District of Columbia), Territorial, Tribal and U.S. Territory (or Possession) Government (including freely-associated states).

Program-level eligibility from SAM.gov. Each funding notice sets its own requirements.

Frequently asked questions