The purpose of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) is to help communities by implementing mitigation measures in accordance with the Presidential Major Disaster Declaration and to reduce the risk of loss of life and property from future disasters.
When implemented, HMGP projects provide a variety of benefits, including but not limited to:
- Improved environmental resilience
- Lessened impact from future events
- Avoidance of repetitive damage from natural disasters
- Reduction of community risk in the National Flood Insurance Program
Cost Share Requirements
FEMA provides up to 75 percent of the funds for mitigation projects. The remaining 25 percent can come from a variety of sources. A cash payment from the state, local government, or, in some cases, directly from the individual is the most direct option. Other sources may include donated resources, such as construction labor; Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) funds from a flood insurance policy; or loans from other government agencies, such as the Small Business Administration.
Projects under Construction
- Mirabeau Water Garden Phase I ($30M) ~ Phase 1 Completing Construction Q3 2026 and Phase 2 is in final planning stages
The water garden project phase 1 has transformed the donated 25-acre site into a multi-functional destination of water education and storage. The water garden has installed a water pump as well as numerous green infrastructure elements to create a calm yet functional storage area. It will store 10M gallons of water there for relieving the streets and homes of their flooding concerns.
- Drainage Pump Station (DPS) 01 Broadmoor Watershed Drainage Upgrades & Green Infrastructure (Phase I- $45M) ~ Phase Iis current ly in Constriction and Phase II- In planning awaiting funding.
These projects focus on mitigating flooding across the Broadmoor, Central City, Garden District, Irish Channel, St. Thomas Development, Touro, East Riverside, and Milan neighborhood districts of New Orleans. Through the installation of bioswales, permeable surfaces (porous concrete, pervious asphalt, and permeable pavers), detention ponds, and corner street basins, this project will store 13 million gallons and delay 2.5 times the storage capacity (29 million gallons) of stormwater from overwhelming the drainage system of pump station 01.
Completed Projects
- Pontilly Drainage and Green Infrastructure ($15.5M) ~ Construction was completed in November 2022.
The Pontilly project was designed to reduce flood risks for the Pontchartrain Park and Gentilly Woods neighborhoods. This project converted 37 vacant lots into stormwater detention ponds, 3 stormwater parks, 17 retrofitted green alleyways. It also incorporated bioswales, street basins and permeable pavers along reconstructed parking lanes to capture 8.9M gallons of water.
- Hagan Lafitte Drainage Upgrades and Green Infrastructure ($ 7.1M) ~ Construction was completed in April 2021.
This project combined gray -green flood mitigation project in Mid-City and Bayou St John neighborhood. The 33-acre (Easton Park) park installed an underground water storage tank which was designed to capture excess rainwater during severe storms. In this project 23 city blocks were addressed with urban bioswales, rain gardens and filter and slowly release stormwater with semi permeable sidewalks.
- Oak Park Stormwater Management & Flood Mitigation ($6.5M) ~ Construction was completed in November 2023.
The Oak Park Project repurposed five New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA)-owned parcels on Perlita Street to reduce the risk of flooding for the Filmore neighborhood. The improvements for this project included underground stormwater storage (572,260 gallons) and street repairs.
- St. Roch Drainage: ($22M) ~ Construction was completed in June 2025.
The St. Roch Drainage Resilience Project focuses on a 26-block area by integrating green and gray (standard) infrastructure enhancements to benefit the St. Roch neighborhood. Permeable parking lanes, rain gardens and bioswales were added to the area for water management and beautification. This project is designed to hold 6,565,700 gallons of stormwater.
Contact Us
For more information on the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funded project, please contact:
ors@nola.gov