On August 15, 2024, FEMA published a final rule (89 Fed. Reg. 66241, Aug 15, 2024) extending the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) application period. Before this rule, applicants had 12 months after the declaration of a Major Disaster to submit all local HMGP applications to the FEMA Regional Administrator. Applicants could apply for additional extensions, capped at 180 days.
The new rule extends the “base” application period for hazard mitigation grants from 12 months to 15 months following a Major Disaster, and allows Regional FEMA Administrators to grant extensions of up to 8 months. This extension is designed to “increase[] flexibility for applicants by allowing more opportunities for them to develop and improve their grant applications to address the effects of climate change and other unmet mitigation needs.”