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1 [1] (June 11, 2025)

handle is hein.crs/bfovwofe0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Mamani Inforrning the legislative debate since 1914 0 Updated June 11, 2025 A Brief Overview of FEMA's Public Assistance Program The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) program provides financial and direct federal assistance (e.g., federal supplies, personnel) to states, tribes, and territories when authorized as part of a presidential declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the Stafford Act, P.L. 93-288, as amended). PA's broad scope includes assistance for urgent response activities undertaken immediately before or after an incident occurs, as well as long-term recovery assistance completed years later. Every U.S. state, territory, and the District of Columbia received PA over the past decade. A state, tribe, or territory with an applicable Stafford Act declaration serves as the PA primary grant Recipient. State, local, tribal, and territorial governments (SLTTs), as well as eligible nonprofit entities, may then apply for funding as Applicants. The Stafford Act authorizes the President (as delegated to FEMA) to reimburse not less than 75% of the eligible costs of specific types of disaster response and recovery work undertaken by eligible Applicants. FEMA may recommend that the President increase the federal cost share, where warranted. PA-Eligible Work PA includes assistance for both short-term Emergency Work undertaken to respond to a disaster or an emergency, and long-term Permanent Work undertaken to recover from a major disaster. Applicants are expected to complete Emergency Work within 6 months and Permanent Work within 18 months of a declaration, though extensions may be granted. PA for Emergency Work may be available through an emergency or major disaster declaration. It includes efforts undertaken to save lives; protect property, public health, and safety; and reduce or avert the threat of a catastrophe. • Debris Removal (Category A)-Applicants may receive direct assistance and reimbursement for the costs of removing debris and wreckage from public and private property when FEMA determines such work is in the public interest. • Emergency Protective Measures (Category B)- Applicants may receive direct assistance and reimbursement for work undertaken to save lives and protect property (e.g., search and rescue, emergency transportation, and distribution of food and first aid). PA for Permanent Work is only available through a major disaster declaration. It includes efforts to repair, restore, reconstruct, or replace disaster-damaged public and eligible private nonprofit facilities. Applicants may receive reimbursement for eligible work undertaken to return the following types of facilities to their pre-disaster use: • Roads and Bridges (Category C)-except federal aid roads; * Water Control Facilities (Category D)-including dams and levees; • Buildings and Equipment (Category E)-including eligible building contents; • Utilities (Category F)-including gas, power, water, communication, and sewage facilities; and • Parks, Recreational, Other (Category G)-including railways, beaches, piers, ports, and harbors. Figure 1. General Timing of Public Assistance Programs MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION Sources: Developed by CRS based on 44 C.F.R. §§206.40 and 206.204(c) and (d); and FEMA, How a Disaster Gets Declared. Notes: * These timelines reflect 44 C.F.R. §206.204(c), though extensions may be granted upon request per 44 C.F.R. §206.204(c) and (d). See also CRS Infographic IG 10021, How FEMA Public Assistance Works, by Erica A Lee, How FEMA Public Assistance Works, by Erica A Lee. Ittps://crsreportscongress~gov