Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Emergency Management Performance Grant Program Region 6 | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the FY 2015 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Program for Region 6?

The FY 2015 EMPG for Region 6 is a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant opportunity under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It is designed to strengthen day-to-day emergency management capacity across all hazards by helping governments build and sustain an emergency preparedness system that protects life and property.

2) What is the main purpose of the EMPG program?

The EMPG program provides federal funding to help jurisdictions maintain and improve the people, programs, and coordination structures needed to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from disasters and emergencies of all kinds. It also supports ongoing readiness activities such as planning, organization, training, exercises, and operational preparedness aligned to national priorities.

3) What types of emergencies or hazards does this grant cover?

This grant is described as supporting an all-hazards approach. That means it is intended to strengthen emergency management capabilities that apply broadly to many types of disasters and emergencies rather than focusing on a single hazard.

4) How does EMPG relate to national preparedness priorities?

FY 2015 EMPG funding is intended to help emergency management agencies obtain resources needed to support the National Preparedness Goal (NPG), including the mission areas and core capabilities associated with the NPG. The program emphasizes sustaining and improving capabilities that help jurisdictions manage emergencies effectively, coordinate across agencies and levels of government, and continuously improve readiness through planning and performance-based preparedness activities.

5) What kinds of activities does EMPG support in practical terms?

Based on the opportunity description, EMPG supports activities that align planning, organization, training, exercising, and operational readiness with national preparedness priorities. It is meant to help agencies sustain the day-to-day capacity and coordination mechanisms needed for comprehensive emergency management.

6) Which federal agency is offering this funding?

FEMA is the granting agency, and it operates under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for this opportunity.

7) What is the legal authority for the EMPG program?

The grant is grounded in Section 662 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (6 U.S.C. 762) and the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). Title VI of the Stafford Act authorizes FEMA to make grants supporting a nationwide system of emergency preparedness and frames emergency preparedness as a shared responsibility between the federal government and states and their political subdivisions.

8) Is EMPG considered a discretionary grant, and what activity category is it listed under?

Yes. The opportunity is listed as a discretionary grant under the disaster prevention and relief activity category.

9) What is the funding opportunity number for this announcement?

The funding opportunity number is DHS 15 GPD 042 006 01.

10) What is the CFDA number associated with this grant?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 97.042, titled Emergency Management Performance Grants.

11) How much total funding is estimated for FY 2015 EMPG?

The estimated total funding amount listed for FY 2015 EMPG is $350,100,000.

12) How many awards are expected for this Region 6 posting?

The posting lists an expected 5 awards for Region 6.

13) Is there an award ceiling or award floor for individual awards?

No specific ceiling or floor is provided in the synopsis (both are shown as 0). This typically indicates that award sizing is determined through the program formula, allocations, or other FEMA funding methodology rather than a fixed per-award range in the public listing.

14) Who is eligible to apply for this specific posting?

Eligibility for this specific posting is limited to state governments.

15) Does this mean local, tribal, or territorial agencies cannot benefit?

The opportunity notes the common EMPG structure where states serve as primary applicants and may then direct support or provide pass-through assistance in coordination with local, tribal, or territorial partners consistent with program rules.

16) Is cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning recipients must contribute non-federal resources toward the total project cost according to program guidance.

17) What are the key dates for this funding opportunity?

The posted date is March 25, 2015.
The application closing date is April 24, 2015.
The archive date is May 24, 2015.

18) Where was the official announcement published?

The official listing and additional details were made available through Grants.gov.

19) Who should applicants contact if they cannot access the full announcement?

Applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement were directed to contact FEMA via the GMD Systems Branch at GMD Systems Branch@fema.gov.

20) What is the overall emphasis of the FY 2015 EMPG funding described here?

The emphasis is on sustaining and improving emergency management capabilities that allow jurisdictions to manage emergencies effectively, coordinate across agencies and levels of government, and continuously improve readiness using planning and performance-based preparedness activities aligned with the National Preparedness Goal.