Ohio Severe Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides

New Public Assistance Delivery Model

In 2014, FEMA conducted an in-depth analysis of the existing Public Assistance program's delivery process. A comprehensive examination of the program revealed the program averages $4.7 billion annually in federal disaster assistance to state, local, tribal and territorial governments, and certain private non-profit organizations to repair or rebuild public infrastructure. However, the program had not evolved to meet the changing needs of its customers during the last 20 years. One of the shortfalls included using a one-size-fits-all approach to process projects, regardless of the project's size or cost.

Following months of analysis and restructuring, a new delivery model was designed to meet the needs of applicants by streamlining and categorizing projects. The goal moving forward is to deliver the program more efficiently to applicants as they work to rebuild public infrastructure after a disaster. FEMA now uses the Grants Manager and Grants Portal tool, which is a web-based, project tracking system for use by FEMA and our stakeholders. The tool captures Public Assistance program projects in formulation for a seamless transition to grant obligation. The model also uses Consolidated Resource Centers, which are centralized locations where subject matter experts are staffed to process grant applications across multiple disasters.

The new PA program delivery model was implemented using a phased approach. Following successful implementations with Iowa, Oregon, Georgia, Iowa, and in current disasters in New Hampshire, North Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming, and Missouri.  Delivery of Public Assistance now simplifies and improves the delivery of grants by deliberately targeting the early phases of the grants life-cycle in order to avoid challenges that historically arose post-award and during grant closeout. Beginning on September 12, 2017, the updated Public Assistance deliery model will be implemented on all future disaster declarations.