Public Assistance Resource Library
The COVID-19 incident period ended on May 11, 2023. FEMA will continue to provide funeral assistance until Sept. 30, 2025, to those who have lost loved ones due to this pandemic.
The Public Assistance Resource Library contains general program and disaster-specific guidance that focuses on restoring public infrastructure for communities affected by major disasters or emergencies.
You can search for a document by its title, or filter the collection to browse by:
- Topic: Cost Evaluations, private nonprofits, emergency protective measures, etc.
- Document Type: Fact sheet, policy, infographic, etc.
POLICY QUICK LINK
Click to show all policy documents below.
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- | Fact Sheet
FEMA provides financial assistance to states, territories, tribes, local governments, nonprofits, institutions of higher education, and other non-federal entities. All FEMA grant programs are subject to the federal procurement standards found at 2 CFR 200.317 - 200.326. Recognizing that FEMA's recipients and sub-recipients may face exigencies or emergencies when carrying out a FEMA award, this fact sheet provides key information to consider when utilizing contracted resources under exigent or emergency circumstances.
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- | Fact Sheet
Disaster-specific guidance for the 2017 hurricane season including Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. Fact sheets specific to each declared event are included as well as Public Assistance Alternative Procedures Permenant Work Pilot Guides and the policy for implementing the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.
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- | Guidance
As amended by Section 1235(b) of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 (DRRA), Section 406(e) requires FEMA to fund repair, restoration, reconstruction, or replacement in conformity with "the latest published editions of relevant consensus-based codes, specifications, and standards that incorporate the latest hazard-resistant design and establish minimum acceptable criteria for the design, construction, and maintenance of residential structures and facilities that may be eligible for assistance under this Act for the purposes of protecting the health, safety, and general welfare of a facility’s users against disasters."
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- | Frequently Asked Questions
This document includes four Public Assistance policy memorandums that were superseded by Version 4 of the Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide (PAPPG), published on June 1, 2020. The four memos and release dates are as follows: FEMA Public Assistance Eligibility of Private Nonprofit Elementary and Secondary Schools (April 11, 2018); Policy Clarification for Public Assistance Hydrologic and Hydraulic Study Requirements for Drainage Structures and Culverts (July 9, 2018); FEMA Public Assistance Repair Versus Replacement Policy Clarification (March 15, 2019); and FEMA’s Approved Cost Estimating Methodology (March 15, 2019).
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- | Memorandum
The purpose of the Recovery Interim Policy FP-104-009-11, Consensus-Based Codes, Specifications, and Standards for Public Assistance (Policy) is to define the framework and requirements for consistent and appropriate implementation of the consensus-based design, construction and maintenance codes, specifications and standards for Public Assistance (PA) to promote resiliency and achieve risk reduction under the authority of the Stafford Act §§ 323 and 406(e) (42 U.S.C. §§ 5165a and 5172) and 44 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 206, subpart M.
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- | Policy
On October 5, 2018, the President signed the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA) of 2018 into law as part of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2018. This Fact Sheet describes DRRA changes to the Public Assistance Program under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.
In a clarification memorandum dated December 19, 2018, FEMA required Recipients and Subrecipients to notify FEMA of their management cost option no later than February 12, 2019. Due to delays and complications caused by the recent lapse in appropriations and associated partial government shutdown, FEMA is extending this deadline to March 15, 2019. The SOP and an updated fact sheet both reflect this new deadline for notifying FEMA of the management cost option selected.
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- | Memorandum, Standard Operating Procedure
This Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) document defines the procedures for documenting and processing management cost claims under the Public Assistance Management Costs Interim Policy, published on November 14, 2018. The procedural information outlined in this document is intended to ensure consistent implementation of the Interim Policy and effective tracking and verification of management cost claims by Recipients and Subrecipients.
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- | Standard Operating Procedure
FEMA's State-Led Public Assistance Guide provides clear and streamlined guidance on the processes, resources, and capabilities required for Recipients to lead Public Assistance (PA) operations. This guidance outlines the process for Recipients and FEMA to determine if and under what conditions Recipients may elect to perform certain PA disaster grant functions.
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- | Guidance