Description
The Community Assistance Program - State Support Services Element (CAP-SSSE) program provides funding to states to provide technical assistance to communities in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and to evaluate community performance in implementing NFIP floodplain management activities. The program goals include growing local capacity and capability to improve resiliency through floodplain management, building state floodplain management capability and promoting strong state interagency coordination and collaboration, and promoting the benefits and driving demand for strong floodplain management development standards and insurance. Some of the key activities that states are expected to perform include:
• Providing technical assistance to communities in the NFIP
• Evaluating community performance in implementing NFIP floodplain management activities
• Ensuring community compliance with substantial damage/improvement provisions of floodplain management regulations
• Supporting efforts to document and improve compliance with NFIP regulations for new and existing state-owned and managed property in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)
• Assisting communities in joining the NFIP and providing support for activities credited by the Community Rating System (CRS)
• Coordinating with other programs and agencies that impact floodplain management
• Providing post-disaster assistance and support to NFIP communities
• Participating in the development and implementation of the Hazard Mitigation Strategy
The program has a funding methodology that makes funding available to states based on relative risk and workload, TSF tier, and competition. The funding methodology consists of three elements: base funding, incentive funding, and discretionary funding.