FEMA Public Assistance

The Federal Emergency Management Agency's Public Assistance Program (PA Program) provides grants for disaster relief aid to state government agencies, local governments, federally recognized Indian tribes, and private non-profit organisations in the wake of a disaster. The program provides grants for two types of disaster recovery work. The first is emergency work – this includes the debris removal and the preventative measures taken to secure the property and prevent further damage to the property and to public health. The second is permanent work – which covers the measures needed to restore, or replace, the property.

Funding and eligibility
It supplements any federal disaster grant assistance that a business or organization has already received. The federal share of assistance should be less than 75% of the eligible cost of emergency efforts and restoration. The remaining funds are generally allocated by the state government agencies and are distributed amongst eligible applicants.

In order to receive a grant, the applicant must register within 60 days of the disaster, and must be located in a designated disaster area and under the legal responsibility of an eligible applicant. Further, the facility should have been in active use at the time of the disaster; and open to the general public.