# 2025-20059: FEMA Updates Floodplain Review Thresholds for Faster Disaster Aid

2025-20059, Notice of Adjustment of Public Assistance Thresholds for Floodplain Management and Wetlands Protection Review Process, is a Federal Register notice from Homeland Security Department, Federal Emergency Management Agency published 2025-11-18, effective 2025-10-01 (as of 2026-06-08).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-20059
- As of: 2026-06-08
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2025-20059
- Title: Notice of Adjustment of Public Assistance Thresholds for Floodplain Management and Wetlands Protection Review Process
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Homeland Security Department; Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Citation: 90 FR 51771
- Published: 2025-11-18
- Effective: 2025-10-01
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-08

## In one line

FEMA Updates Floodplain Review Thresholds for Faster Disaster Aid

## Summary

Starting October 1, 2025, FEMA is raising the dollar limits that decide how much floodplain and wetlands review is needed for disaster aid projects. This means some smaller projects will skip or shorten the review process, speeding up help without extra costs. These changes reflect inflation and affect anyone applying for Public Assistance after major disasters.

## Abstract

FEMA gives notice that dollar value thresholds that provide exemption from or abbreviation of the floodplain management and wetlands protection process for certain Public Assistance projects associated with disasters with an incident start date on or after October 1, 2025, will increase.

## Effects PRIA read

- Exemption Threshold Raised to $19,000: benefit, low. If you apply for FEMA Public Assistance for a disaster with an incident start date on or after October 1, 2025, projects with a dollar value under $19,000 are exempt from the full 8-step floodplain management and wetlands protection review. That means smaller disaster repair projects below $19,000…
- Abbreviated Review Levels Increased to $19k and $96k: benefit, medium. For disasters with incident start dates on or after October 1, 2025, FEMA raised the thresholds so projects at certain dollar levels only need to apply steps 1, 4, 5, and 8 of the 8-step floodplain and wetlands process. The two thresholds for that abbreviated review are now $19,000 and $96,000.
- Higher $385,000 Cap for Limited-Step Review: benefit, high. For disasters with incident start dates on or after October 1, 2025, FEMA increased the maximum dollar value for actions that only need steps 1, 2, 4, 5, and 8 to $385,000. Projects at or below $385,000 may avoid the full 8-step process and follow the shorter set of steps instead.

## Related documents

- [2026-22693](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22693): Notice of Maximum Amount of Assistance Under the Individuals and Households Program, 2026-11-06
- [2026-22694](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22694): Notice of Adjustment of Statewide Per Capita Impact Indicator, 2026-11-06
- [2026-22692](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22692): Notice of Award Amount Adjustment for Serious Needs Assistance, 2026-11-06
- [2026-22697](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22697): Notice of Adjustment of Minimum Project Worksheet Amount, 2026-11-06
- [2026-22691](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22691): Notice of Adjustment of Countywide Per Capita Impact Indicator, 2026-11-06
- [2026-22696](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22696): Notice of Adjustment of Disaster Grant Amounts, 2026-11-06

## Sources
- [2025-20059 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/18/2025-20059/notice-of-adjustment-of-public-assistance-thresholds-for-floodplain-management-and-wetlands)
- [2025-20059 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-11-18/pdf/2025-20059.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2025-20058, Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-20058)
- [Next: 2025-20060, Notice of Request To Reinstate a Previously Approved Information Collection: Ov…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-20060)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-20059 (as of 2026-06-08).