"We are ecstatic that Calcasieu Parish is finally receiving mitigation money resulting from hurricane Rita. This should be the beginning of more money to help our citizens recover," said Pam Mattingly, Calcasieu Parish floodplain administrator.

An acquisition can apply to a single piece of property or an entire neighborhood. Acquisition projects funded through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) are voluntary and homeowners are never forced to sell their property. The decision to buy damaged property is made by the local government and the property owner, not FEMA. Once an acquisition project is approved by the state and FEMA, the community uses federal funds to purchase the home or building and the land is restricted to open space, recreation or wetlands in perpetuity. The local government becomes the new owner of the property.

During the recovery phase of a disaster, local jurisdictions select projects that could reduce property damage from future disasters and submits grant applications to the state. The HMGP establishes mitigation priorities for the state and facilitates the development of applications. The plan identifies hazards, assesses community needs and describes a community-wide strategy for reducing risks associated with natural disasters. The states administer the HMGP funds. Federal law requires states and local jurisdictions to have a mitigation plan prior to receipt of HMGP funds.

HMGP funds are used to make improvements to public or private property. To be eligible, a project must provide a long-term solution to a specific risk.

The HMGP provides grants to states and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration, to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and to enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster.

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides grants to states and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration, to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and to enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster.