FEMA Reinstates Federal Flood Risk Standards
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Aug. 27 announced a new interim policy to partially implement the Federal Flood Risk Management Standards (FFRMS) that would require certain structures located in Special Flood Hazard Areas to conform to higher flood elevation standards if they use Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant funds.
Although the FFRMS was reinstated through Executive Order 14030 Climate-Related Financial Risk, signed by President Biden on May 20, the interim policy — effective immediately — is the first step toward implementation.
While further actions are anticipated by FEMA and other agencies to fully implement FFRMS, the interim policy applies to certain projects funded through hazard mitigation grant programs. Specifically, the interim policy applies to Fiscal Year 2021 funding for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) programs; the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) for any major disaster declared on or after Aug. 27 and assistance authorized for all 59 COVID-19 disaster declarations. In addition, it applies to HMGP Post Fire for any Fire Mitigation Assistance Grant (FMAG) declarations issued on or after Aug. 27.
The interim policy partially implements the FFRMS by requiring higher flood elevations for three types of actions — elevation, dry floodproofing and mitigation reconstruction — when done in the Special Flood Hazard Area. FEMA’s approach requires additional elevation (Base Flood Elevation plus 2 feet) except in situations where doing so would result in the project being unable to meet applicable cost-effectiveness requirements.
For more information on the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants, visit FEMA’s website.
Latest from NAHBNow
Apr 01, 2026
Builders Respond to Affordability Challenges with Buyer Incentives and Innovative DesignsDuring New Homes Month in April, the home building industry is responding to market conditions by constructing homes that balance price and meet modern home buyer needs. According to U.S. Census Bureau and National Association of Realtors data, newly built homes are typically priced at or below existing homes, offering buyers more options in today’s challenging housing market.
Mar 31, 2026
NAHB Forming Working Group on Building Codes for Missing Middle HousingNAHB is forming a joint working group to foster development of NAHB’s long-term vision for “missing middle” housing and establish positions in the short term on building codes and other issues related to these housing types.
Latest Economic News
Mar 31, 2026
Soft Construction Labor Market Shows Decline for Open PositionsThe number of open positions in construction in February was down year-over-year, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS).
Mar 30, 2026
NAHB HBGI: Micro Markets Lone Bright Spot for Single-Family Building in Fourth QuarterSingle-family construction declined further in the fourth quarter in all but sparsely populated micro counties, according to the NAHB Home Building Geography Index (HBGI).
Mar 26, 2026
State/Local Property Tax Revenue Rises Past $210 Billion in the Fourth QuarterProperty tax revenue collected by state and local governments rose for the ninth consecutive quarter according to the Census Bureau’s quarterly summary of state and local tax revenue.