The HELP Act would expedite the approval process for certain eligible disaster mitigation projects—allowing such projects to begin without the risk of losing potential federal funds. Under current law, local and state agencies applying for federal money to begin mitigation assistance projects must wait until they receive formal approval from FEMA before purchasing land or starting construction on their project—in other words, taking timely, proactive steps prior to FEMA approval could disqualify a community from receiving FEMA support.
WHY WE LIKE IT
This HELP Act would allow communities to begin time-sensitive mitigation projects—and still maintain eligibility for FEMA support—without unnecessary approval delay. This represents an improvement from the “one-size-fits-all” approach to reviewing projects that frequently delays and discourages mitigation work.
