Final answer:
The FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program is designed to help mitigate long-term risks from hazards by funding projects that aim to reduce disaster risk in previously affected areas. The correct answer is option D).
Step-by-step explanation:
The federal program intended to help states and communities reduce or eliminate long-term risk from hazards is the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program. This program provides funding to projects that reduce disaster risk in areas that have been declared disaster zones.
The Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) programs, such as the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM), and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA), align with the federal government's aim to strengthen the resilience of American communities.
These programs are crucial in the systematic effort to reduce the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of disasters. They are part of the broader suite of services offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), an agency that is often spotlighted when responding to and recovering from disasters, like in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.