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Grants & FAQs

Federal grants can help you get your home elevated with little to no out-of-pocket cost!

Many of Davie Shoring’s customers have relied on the various grant programs available through their federal, state and local governments. Davie Shoring’s team of hazard mitigation specialists have extensive training and experience working with these grant programs. Davie Shoring will help you in assessing your needs and give you guidance in the grant application process.

Many of the government programs available can cover 100 percent of the cost to elevate your home. We can assist you in finding which grant programs are currently active in your area in which you may qualify for elevation funds. Davie Shoring is the largest and most experienced company in the region. We are also extremely knowledgeable in all grant processes and we are available to assist you. Contact us today!
Every grant program is different, depending on exactly how the grant application is written. Below is a description of typical FEMA Mitigation Programs.

FEMA Mitigation Programs

HMGP (Hazard Mitigation Grant Program)

This is typically a one-time post disaster grant, which is tied to a specific disaster like Katrina, Isaac, Rita, Sandy, etc.

FMA (Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program)

This is an annual program, designed for the flood mitigation of NFIP insured properties. It is nationally competitive and any community (city, Parish, or state) can apply for these funds.

FMA Program

Project grants are designed to implement measures to mitigate against flood losses through measures that may include acquisition and demolition, relocation, elevation, among others.

FMA Program

This program focuses on mitigating Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) and FMA Repetitive Loss (FMA RL) properties.
A severe repetitive loss property can be defined as follows: 
  • A property which is covered by NFIP insurance
  • A property that has been damaged by flooding
    • Four or more separate claims have been made and the payment of each exceeded $5,000.00, or
    • Two separate claims and payments (building only) have been made, with the cumulative amount of these claims exceeding the market value of the insured structure.
An FMA repetitive loss property can be defined as follows:
  • A property which is covered by NFIP insurance
  • A property that has been damaged by flooding –
    • Has been damaged by flooding on two occasions, in which the average cost of repair, equaled or exceeded 25% for the market value of the structure at the time of each flood, and
    • When the second flood damage occurred, the flood insurance policy contained increased cost of insurance coverage.
Federal Funds:
Amount of funding is based on the designation of the home.
  • SRL – 100%
    • No homeowner match for eligible costs
  • FMA RL – 90%
    • 10% homeowner match for eligible costs
  • Insured Non-SRL, Non-FMA RL – 75%
    • 25% homeowner match for eligible costs
ICC (Increased Cost of Compliance) is an add-on provision to a basic flood insurance policy that provides additional benefits to the policyholder if required to elevate their home to meet or exceed the FEMA standards.
ICC funding may be used to cover the homeowner match, depending upon eligibility and specific grant guidelines.
Elevation Grants
  • Elevation is a common method of mitigation
  • Elevation to FEMA standards will place the floor of your living area above all but the most severe floods (such as a 500 or 1000 year flood)
  • Elevation grants require your home to be lifted to the FEMA standard, BFE (Base Flood Elevation) or DFirm (Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map) plus any freeboard required by your municipality.
  • Typical elevation methods:
    • Closed foundation – The space between the ground and the elevated structure is enclosed with block
    • Open foundation – The space between the ground and the elevated structure is open
    • Most slab low lifts – up to 5’ are closed foundation
    • Most pier/beams low lifts and slab or pier/beam high lifts are open foundations
  • Any home can be elevated, pier and beam or slab on grade
  • Most elevations in the Gulf South are slab homes on grade
  • Elevating your slab with your home is the typically the fastest, least invasive, and most cost-effective way to elevate a slab home
  • Your elevation project must be cost effective
  • Depth of flooding or cost of prior flooding help determine cost effectiveness
  • The cost of elevation is driven by the method of elevation
Determining Cost Effectiveness
  • Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) is a procedure that determines the cost effectiveness of elevation, by looking at the potential future damages that can be avoided as compared to the cost of the elevation project. A BCA is conducted for every potential elevation project.
  • Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) is a numerical ratio of the cost effectiveness of a project. It is calculated as the net present value for the total project.
Advantages to Elevating Your Home
  • Elevation provides is peace of mind, removing the physical, financial, and emotional strain of having your house flooded.
  • Elevation reduces the risk of flood damage to your house and possessions
  • Elevation removes the need to move your valued possessions to higher elevation, either inside or away from your home
  • Elevation has become and well known and accepted method of flood protection, and qualified experienced contractors like Davie Shoring are available. Davie Shoring pioneered many of the procedures and techniques which are standard in the industry today.
  • Elevations of 8.0’ or more may provide additional space for parking and storage under your elevated home
  • Elevation to FEMA standards typically lowers flood insurance premiums and avoids future increases (Biggers Waters Act)
Typically Eligible Costs
  • Engineering fees
  • Permitting
  • Clearing working space for elevation around the perimeter of the home
  • Excavation to access piling locations
  • Installation of pilings as required
  • Lifting the structure to the required height
  • Supporting the structure at the new elevation
  • Installing footing, piers/columns, or enclosure wall as required
  • Elevation of HVAC units to the new elevation
  • Disconnect, extend, and reconnect utilities (electric, water, gas and sewer)
  • Access to electric meters as required
  • Temporary and permanent access (landings and steps) at the new elevation
  • Personal lifts for approved individuals with mobility and health needs
  • Installing flood vents and access door as required by code
  • Replacing any concrete flatwork damaged in order to elevated the structure

Typical Ineligible Costs

  • Elevating auxiliary structures
  • Enhancement of existing decks, porches, patios, or flatwork (driveways and walks), or new decks, porches, patios, or flatwork
  • Improvements for purely aesthetic reasons except as required by Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) review
  • Replacement/repair of utility components that are not part of the elevation, unless required by code
  • Ramped driveways may or may not by eligible depending on the grant guidelines

Additional Resources

Other Programs:

There are other Home Elevation Grants available to Louisiana homeowners. Some of these grants are complicated and are frequently changing. Davie Shoring’s team of hazard mitigation specialists will guide you through the grant paperwork process. Contact us today!
Let's Get To Work. Contact Us Today!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Our unique PermaLock System ensures true vertical alignment while pressing the pile to refusal. Our cylinders are designed to lock together, therefore ensuring that every cylinder is sturdy and becomes one continuous concrete piling. With this type of threading there is no lateral movement during or after installation due to expansive soils, soil consolidation, sloping sites, ground pressure or roots of trees (in which other competitors’ warranty becomes null and void under these conditions). True vertical alignment and concentric loading offered by PermaLock resist buckling of the supporting piles which can occur with other systems.

Road Home Option 1 participants may have had access to one or more of these three elevation programs:

  • The National Flood Insurance Program’s Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) program can provide up to $30,000 to eligible policy holders who sustained damage of 50% or more. This is administered through the NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program). Homeowners should contact their flood insurance provider for additional information.
  • The Road Home Elevation Incentive Award provides $30,000 ($20,000 for mobile homes) to eligible homeowners as an incentive to elevate their homes to meet the local Base Flood Elevation or Advisory Base Flood Elevation. These funds are limited to the specific dollar amount and cannot exceed the Road Home $150,000 maximum. For questions about the Road Home Elevation Incentive Award Program, call Road Home at 1-888-ROAD2LA (1-888-762-3252).
  • The State OCD-DRU Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) provides up to $100,000 in additional funds (based on actual construction costs rather than a fixed amount) to eligible homeowners to elevate their homes to comply with, at minimum, the FEMA required elevation height for the area. Under FEMA’s Pilot Reconstruction Program, eligible applicants may receive HMGP funds to demolish an existing structure and construct an improved, elevated structure on the same site. Homeowner eligibility is determined by FEMA based on HMGP regulations.

For all of these programs you should contact your local building code and permit office to determine elevation requirements for your home.

We like to inform our clients of the necessity of a strong and dependable foundation. With a lifetime warranty, it has proven to be a wise investment. 
No, it is not required that the Homeowner maintained flood insurance at the time of the flood event. Under the OCD-DRU Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, there is no requirement for an applicant to have had flood insurance at the time of the declared event. However, FEMA does require that an applicant maintain flood insurance for the life of the structure following the completion of the mitigation activity (hence the need for a deed restriction–this requirement follows the structure regardless of any future owner).
FEMA reviews the property for cost effectiveness as well as historical and environmental issues. If no issues exist, the property is approved or “cleared” for the program. If there is an issue, the program works with the appropriate entity to resolve the issue so the property may be approved. Normally, work started before receiving FEMA clearance disqualifies the property from HMGP funding

Road Home Increased Cost of Compliance

The Road Home Elevation Incentive Award provides $30,000 ($20,000 for mobile homes) to eligible homeowners as an incentive to elevate their homes to meet the local Base Flood Elevation or Advisory Base Flood Elevation. These funds are limited to the specific dollar amount and cannot exceed the Road Home $150,000 maximum. For questions about the Road Home Elevation Incentive Award Program, call Road Home at 1-888-ROAD2LA (1-888-762-3252).

If the time frame for applying for Road Home elevation incentive award has expired, can an applicant reapply for this award?
Road Home applicants who were affected by Hurricanes Gustav or Ike, and/or did not accept the Road Home Elevation Incentive Award because funding was insufficient until the OCD-DRU HMGP began, can apply for an exception to the elevation deadline by sending a letter to:

OCD-DRU
Attn: Elevation Incentive Program
P.O. Box 94095
Baton Rouge, LA 70801

Anyone determined to be eligible for elevation after December 5, 2008, will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

What ICC is, how it works, and how it is obtained?
The National Flood Insurance Program’s Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) program can provide up to $30,000 to eligible policy holders who sustained damage of 50% or more to help pay the costs to bring their home into compliance with their community’s floodplain ordinance. This is administered through the NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program). Homeowners should contact their flood insurance provider for additional information.

Who Is Eligible to Claim ICC Money?
You are eligible to claim ICC money on your home if:
  • SUBSTANTIALY DAMAGED BY A FLOOD (substantially damaged means that repairs will cost 50 percent or more of the building’s pre-damage market value); or be considered a REPETITIVE LOSS STRUCTURE*
  • You had flood insurance in place on your home at the time of the event
  • You filed a flood claim following the event
    • *The community must have a repetitive loss provision in its floodplain management ordinance.
Making A Claim:
Contact your insurance company/agent who wrote your flood policy. He or she will ex¬plain the process and help you.