Fact Check: FEMA approved Fire Management Assistance Grants but denied mitigation funding for Oklahoma.

Fact Check: FEMA Approved Fire Management Assistance Grants but Denied Mitigation Funding for Oklahoma

What We Know

The claim that "FEMA approved Fire Management Assistance Grants but denied mitigation funding for Oklahoma" is based on recent events surrounding wildfire management and disaster assistance in the state. According to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, FEMA approved Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs) for several counties affected by wildfires in March 2025. This approval allows for funding to manage and control fires that threaten significant destruction (Oklahoma.gov).

However, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), which is designed to fund mitigation efforts to prevent future disasters, has specific eligibility criteria. The HMGP is not a relief program for immediate disaster recovery but focuses on long-term strategies to reduce future risks (Oklahoma.gov). The HMGP-Post Fire (HMGP-PF) is available after an FMAG is approved, but it must be used for wildfire-specific mitigation activities (Oklahoma.gov).

Analysis

The evidence indicates that while FEMA did approve FMAGs for the recent wildfires in Oklahoma, the status of HMGP funding is more nuanced. The HMGP is a separate program that requires specific conditions to be met before funding can be allocated. According to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, the new application process for HMGP and HMGP-PF grants was launched in May 2025, which suggests that there may be ongoing opportunities for mitigation funding (Oklahoma.gov).

The claim that mitigation funding was denied could stem from the fact that HMGP funding is not automatically granted following an FMAG approval. Instead, it requires a separate application process and is contingent on the identification of specific mitigation measures (Oklahoma.gov). Therefore, while FMAGs were approved, it does not necessarily mean that mitigation funding was outright denied; it may simply not have been applied for or approved yet under the new guidelines.

The sources used in this analysis are credible, with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and FEMA being authoritative bodies in disaster management and funding. However, the interpretation of the funding status can vary based on the timing and specifics of applications made under the HMGP.

Conclusion

The claim is Partially True. FEMA did approve Fire Management Assistance Grants for the wildfires in Oklahoma, but the assertion that mitigation funding was denied is misleading. The HMGP operates under different criteria and requires a separate application process, which may not have been completed or approved at the time of the claim. Thus, while there may not be current mitigation funding available, it does not imply a blanket denial of such funding.

Fact Check: FEMA approved Fire Management Assistance Grants but denied mitigation funding for Oklahoma.