Official Resources and Helpful Links
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Preparing for a home elevation project can feel overwhelming, especially when grants, insurance, engineering, flood maps, and construction planning are all involved.
This resource library brings the most important tools together in one place. Download checklists, review official resources, learn common FEMA terms, and understand what information may be needed before your project moves forward.
Reliable Foundations helps homeowners stay organized, understand the process, and prepare for the construction phase with confidence.
Funding eligibility and award decisions are made by the appropriate federal, state, local, parish, municipal, and insurance-related authorities. Reliable Foundations does not approve grants or insurance claims, but we help homeowners prepare, plan, and complete elevation projects.
Official Resources for Flood Mitigation & Home Elevation
The links below connect homeowners with official resources that may be helpful when researching flood risk, mitigation funding, flood insurance, and Louisiana recovery or resilience programs.
Reliable Foundations recommends using official government and insurance resources when reviewing eligibility, program requirements, flood maps, and insurance information.
Official Resource Card 1
FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program may provide funding to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments after a presidentially declared disaster to help reduce future disaster losses.
Official Resource Card 2
FEMA Flood Mitigation Assistance
Flood Mitigation Assistance is a competitive FEMA grant program focused on reducing or eliminating repetitive flood damage to buildings insured by the National Flood Insurance Program.
Official Resource Card 3
Increased Cost of Compliance
Increased Cost of Compliance is coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program that may help qualifying policyholders pay for certain floodplain compliance measures after flood damage. FEMA materials also note ICC may provide up to $30,000 for eligible mitigation measures.
Official Resource Card 4
FEMA Flood Map Service Center
The FEMA Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood hazard information produced in support of the National Flood Insurance Program. Homeowners can use it to search for official flood maps and flood hazard products.
Official Resource Card 5
FloodSmart / National Flood Insurance Program
FloodSmart provides National Flood Insurance Program information, including flood insurance education, flood preparedness resources, and tools to find insurance providers. FEMA states that the NFIP is managed by FEMA and delivered through insurance companies and NFIP Direct.
Official Resource Card 6
Louisiana GOHSEP Hazard Mitigation Assistance
The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness provides Louisiana hazard mitigation information, including post-disaster mitigation grant information such as HMGP.
Official Resource Card 7
Louisiana Office of Community Development
The Louisiana Office of Community Development administers disaster recovery, resilience, rehabilitation, and mitigation-related programs, including resilience and mitigation initiatives.
Official Resource Card 8
Louisiana Department of Insurance: Flood Insurance
The Louisiana Department of Insurance provides consumer information about flood insurance, including NFIP, private flood insurance, and flood insurance requirements in high-risk areas.
Common FEMA & Elevation Terms
Common Terms Homeowners Should Know
You do not need to become a FEMA expert to start the process, but understanding a few common terms can make conversations with local officials, insurance providers, engineers, and contractors much easier.
Term Card 1
BFE - Base Flood Elevation
A regulatory flood elevation used for floodplain management, insurance, and building requirements. FEMA notes that Base Flood Elevations are typically shown on Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
Term Card 2
Elevation Certificate
A document used to record elevation information for a building. FEMA explains that elevation information is used to show compliance with floodplain management requirements and may also be used for flood insurance purposes.
Term Card 3
NFIP - National Flood Insurance Program
A federal flood insurance program managed by FEMA and delivered through insurance companies and NFIP Direct.
Term Card 4
HMGP - Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
A FEMA mitigation grant program that may become available after a presidentially declared disaster when requested by an authorized representative.
Term Card 5
FMA - Flood Mitigation Assistance
A competitive grant program focused on reducing or eliminating repetitive flood damage to NFIP-insured buildings.
Term Card 6
ICC - Increased Cost of Compliance
NFIP coverage that may help qualifying policyholders pay part of the cost to meet local floodplain requirements after flood damage.
Term Card 7
Substantial Damage
A local determination that may apply when the cost to restore a damaged building equals or exceeds 50% of the building’s pre-damage market value. FEMA states that this decision is generally made at the local government level by a building official or floodplain manager.
Term Card 8
Freeboard
Additional elevation above the minimum required flood elevation. Freeboard is often used to provide extra protection and may be required or recommended by local rules.
Term Card 9
Floodplain Administrator
A local official or office responsible for helping administer floodplain management requirements in a community.
Term Card 10
Project Closeout
The final phase after construction, inspections, documentation, and any required program closeout steps are complete.
Suggested Next Steps
Not Sure Where to Start? Follow These Steps.
If you are beginning the process, you do not need to have every answer right away. Start by gathering basic information, learning which documents may be needed, and speaking with a qualified elevation contractor.
Step 1
Check Your Eligibility
Use the Reliable Foundations eligibility checker to understand which funding paths may be worth exploring.
Step 2
Download the Checklist
Gather your flood insurance, property, ownership, claim, and flood damage documentation.
Step 3
Review Official Resources
Use FEMA, FloodSmart, GOHSEP, Louisiana OCD, and local parish resources to verify program requirements and floodplain information.
Step 4
Schedule a Consultation
Reliable Foundations can help you understand where you are in the process, what may be needed next, and how to plan for the elevation and foundation work.
Reliable Foundations Support
Need Help Understanding Your Next Step?
Every home, flood history, insurance situation, and funding path is different. Reliable Foundations helps homeowners make sense of the process so they can move forward with better information and a clearer plan.
Whether you are just starting your research or already gathering documents, our team can help you understand what may be needed before your home elevation project begins.
Schedule a free consultation.
Reliable Foundations
4435 St. Louis Street, New Orleans, LA 70119
Reliable Foundations is not a government agency, insurance provider, grant administrator, or legal advisor. Funding availability, eligibility, program requirements, award decisions, insurance decisions, and payment procedures are determined by the appropriate federal, state, local, parish, municipal, and insurance-related authorities.
Reliable Foundations helps homeowners understand the process, prepare for project planning, coordinate construction-related requirements, and complete home elevation and foundation work.
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