Final answer:
A community might be eligible for a Section 404 Hazard Mitigation Grant under certain circumstances without a disaster declaration. Flood events can potentially recur, and students can both live in student housing near campus and receive financial aid, which are not mutually exclusive. Categorical and block grants are different in terms of specificity and restrictions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Your community could be eligible for a Section 404 Hazard Mitigation Grant under certain circumstances, even if it did not receive a disaster declaration. This type of grant is generally tied to a declared disaster, but there are circumstances where a grant might be provided for mitigation efforts in areas that could be impacted by similar hazards in the future. For instance, if there was extensive damage in the broader region that warranted federal assistance, nearby communities might also be considered for mitigation grants to prevent future damage. So, the correct answer is c) Yes, under certain circumstances.
Regarding the question of floods, a flood with a similar discharge to a previous event could indeed happen again in the future. Floods are natural events that can recur at irregular intervals. Therefore, the answer to this question is a. Yes.
Living in student housing within five miles of the campus and receiving financial aid are not mutually exclusive situations. A student could simultaneously live near campus in student housing and receive some kind of financial aid. So, the answer to this question is b. No, they are not mutually exclusive.
Lastly, it is important to understand the difference between categorical and block grants. Categorical grants are specific and intended for narrowly defined purposes, and they may include matching funds and specific stipulations. In contrast, block grants are given for more general purposes and offer greater flexibility to states with fewer restrictions. During national emergencies, such as those that occurred during Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy, the national government has used categorical grants to fund local governments.