Public Assistance

Overview

In federally declared disasters, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can provide funding and technical help to state and local governments and certain private, non-profit groups. This funding will help to fix or replace damaged public properties such as roads, bridges, buildings and parks that have been damaged or destroyed.

FEMA also can offer help for emergency protective measures, debris removal, emergency communications and emergency public transportation. The categories for grant funding are as follows:

Cat A - Debris Removal
Cat B - Emergency Protective Measures
Cat C - Roads and Bridges
Cat D - Water Control Facilities
Cat E - Public Buildings & Equipment
Cat F - Public Utilities
Cat G - Parks, Recreational Facilities, and Other Items
Cat Z - Management Costs

The Public Assistance program serves as the direct contact between FEMA and the applicant. Reimbursement is available to all groups and areas meeting the requirements. Trained grant managers help applicants through the reimbursement process. In most cases, federal funding help is made available on a cost-sharing basis.

FEMA normally pays 75 percent of the eligible costs while the state and/or local government pays what is left. (Historically, the state has paid the remaining cost share in North Carolina.)

Before and after of culvert with storm damage at left and after repairs at right — This culvert in the city of Marion in McDowell County, NC, was damaged during Hurricane Florence and the town received public assistance funding to repair and improve it.

How to Apply

Three images of recreation areas and parks — This ball field and playground In Yancey County were rebuilt with a Public Assistant grant.

Before you can apply for FEMA public assistance, you must be a registered applicant. If you are already a registered applicant, you can go directly to the FEMA Grants Portal to apply. If you think your organization meets the criteria to be registered with FEMA, please have an official representative register in the FEMA Grants Portal and submit a New Registration request. You will need to provide all the information in one sitting. If you are a private nonprofit (PNP), please make sure you have your tax-exempt information and other supporting documentation ready to upload for FEMA’s review.

FEMA will advise you via email whether or not your organization was approved for Public Assistance funding in future events. It typically takes FEMA two to three weeks to review and email new organizations about their application’s approval.

If you are in a declared area you will be prompted to fill out and submit a Request for Public Assistance. If this form is not sent in by the deadline and the place is later found to have had major damage, it may be too late to apply.

If you are not able to get Public Assistance funding but feel you may qualify for another program, please contact a member of North Carolina Emergency Management or the Small Business Association to figure out what help you may be able to get for your group.

Resources

Grants Portal/Manager Hotline: (866) 337-8448
Navigating FEMA Portal/Grants Manager Videos
Public Assistance Grants Manager
Public Assistance Program Delivery Toolbox
Public Assistance Policy & Guidance
Public Assistance Grants Portal