FEMA Grants States Additional Time to Complete Critical Hazard Mitigation Projects

Work Aligns with FEMA's Commitment to Empowering States to Protect Communities

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that 19 states and two U.S. territories will have more time to finish projects that help prevent damage from disasters. These projects-funded through FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Post Fire-aim to protect communities from disasters like floods, earthquakes, wildfires and hurricanes. Projects examples include building storm shelters, installing generators for important facilities like hospitals and raising low bridges at risk of flooding. These extensions are critically important now because DHS has experienced three appropriations lapses in just the last six months. During lapses, FEMA operates with limited resources and personnel, which can delay and complicate grant management and processing.

"When done correctly, mitigation activities save lives and reduce the cost of future disasters," said Senior Official Performing the Duties of the FEMA Administrator Karen S. Evans. "FEMA is committed to working with state and local partners to ensure projects are completed properly the first time. By approving extension requests, we give communities the time they need to do the job right, rather than rushing or skipping critical steps."

FEMA approved period of performance extensions for 28 projects in 19 states and two U.S territories:

• Alabama

• Alaska

• Colorado

• Connecticut

• Delaware

• Florida

• Hawaii

• Maryland

• Massachusetts

• Michigan

• Mississippi

• Montana

• New York

• North Carolina

• Oregon

• South Carolina

• Tennessee

• Texas

• Washington

• Puerto Rico

• U.S. Virgin Islands

These approvals came after FEMA conducted a careful evaluation of each project's circumstances to ensure that an extension was necessary and in the best interest of the American taxpayer. This additional scrutiny is part of FEMA's ongoing work to eliminate egregious waste, fraud and abuse that has been impacting its grant programs for decades.