Program Overview

The Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program provides funds to states, territories, Indian tribal governments, communities, and universities for hazard mitigation planning and the implementation of mitigation projects prior to a disaster event.

Funding these plans and projects reduces overall risks to the population and structures, while also reducing reliance on funding from actual disaster declarations. PDM grants are to be awarded on a competitive basis and without reference to state allocations, quotas, or other formula-based allocation of funds.  

Program Guidance Links

The Fiscal Year 2012 (FY12) Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) application period opened on June 1, 2011. The FY11 and FY12 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Unified Guidance is now available.  The FY11 and FY12 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Unified Guidance is available in the FEMA Library.

PDM guidance from previous fiscal years can be accessed through the PDM archives.

National Ranking Factors

FEMA will provide additional ranking points for all eligible mitigation planning and project subapplications on the basis of predetermined, objective, quantitative factors to calculate a final National Ranking Score for each subapplication.  Applicant management cost subapplications will not be scored, but will be awarded based on planning and project subapplications awarded for each Applicant.  The 2012 National Ranking factors will be available in the FEMA library.

National Evaluation Panel Factors

Panels composed of representatives from FEMA, State, Territories, local governments, Federally recognized Indian Tribal governments, and other Federal agencies will peer evaluate project and planning subapplications on the basis of qualitative factors.  The 2012 National Evaluation Panel Planning Factors and the 2012 National Evaluation Panel Project Factors will be available in the FEMA library.

Partnership with the HUD Sustainable Housing and Communities Initiative

FEMA continues to partner with HUD regarding the principles set forth in the HUD Sustainable Housing and Communities initiative and will utilize information from the PDM  project and planning subapplications to guide future opportunities for program collaboration.   FEMA supports the HUD program goals for strategic local approaches to sustainable development by combining hazard mitigation objectives with the community development objectives.  The community development objectives support regional planning efforts that integrate housing and transportation decisions, and increase state, regional, and local capacity to incorporate livability, sustainability, and social equity values into land use plans, zoning and infrastructure investments.  Therefore, FEMA will note sustainability principles that are included in the PDM planning and project subapplications. 

• The subapplicant has identified sustainable principles in their planning/project application.
• The subapplicant has identified how the proposed activity relates to the HUD Sustainable Housing and Community initiative.
• The subapplicant has described how the HUD Sustainable Housing and Community initiative relates to the proposed activity.

If you would like to learn more about the HUD Sustainable Housing and Communities initiative please visit http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/program_offices/sustainable_housing_communities.