Public Assistance is a reimbursement program that provides federal funding to help communities respond to and recover from disasters such as Hurricane Florence and Tropical Storm Michael.
FEMA reimburses state and local governments and certain types of private nonprofit organizations for the cost of disaster-related debris removal, emergency protective measures to protect life and property, and permanent repair work to damaged or destroyed infrastructure.
Applicants submit Requests for Public Assistance (RPAs). Applicants must demonstrate the damage is in a designated area, the applicant has legal responsibility to perform the work and the cost is reasonable. Throughout the Public Assistance process, FEMA reviews eligibility of the applicant, facility, work and cost. Once FEMA and the state review and approve the government agencies’ or nonprofits’ RPAs, applicants work with their FEMA representative to develop a damage inventory.