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FEMA Media Library

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Safe Opening and Operation Work Eligible for Public Assistance (Interim) ARCHIVED

This interim policy defines the framework, policy details, and requirements for determining the eligibility of safe opening and operation work and costs under the PA Program. The purpose of this policy is to ensure consistent and appropriate implementation across all COVID-19 emergency and major disaster declarations.

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Fiscal Year 2021 Homeland Security National Training Program Continuing Training Grants

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Tribal Declarations Pilot Guidance Fact Sheet

The Sandy Recovery Improvement Act (SRIA) in 2013 included a provision amending the Stafford Act to provide federally recognized Indian tribal governments (tribal governments) the option to seek Stafford Act assistance independent of a state if they chose to do so. FEMA developed the Tribal Declarations Pilot Guidance after several rounds of consultation with tribal governments over the course of more than three years.SRIA amended the Stafford Act to allow tribal governments the choice to either request an emergency/major disaster declaration independently of a state or seek disaster assistance through a state declaration.
• As amended, the Stafford Act now better reflects the sovereignty of tribal governments and acknowledges FEMA’s government-to-government relationship with tribal governments.
• The change also promotes tribal self-determination by allowing tribal governments to determine for themselves how they want to seek Stafford Act assistance either independently of a state or through a state declaration.

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Suspension of Community Eligibility Notice: Effective Sept. 24, 2021

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FEMA Daily Public Assistance Grant Awards Activity 09-09-2021

FEMA Daily Public Assistance Grant Awards Activity 09-09-2021

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Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico (1-6)

Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) caused severe flooding and high winds, resulting in damage to houses, critical facilities, schools, and other buildings. The advisories below provide information to assist with rebuilding decisions in the aftermath of the 2017 hurricanes as well as any future flooding or high wind events. This guidance is intended for homeowners, designers, building owners, and officials, architects, engineers, and contractors; however, it can provide helpful information for other stakeholders as well.

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Workers from Custom Builders perform roof repairs in July at Paul M. Pearson Gardens Housing Community on St. Thomas

Workers from Custom Builders perform roof repairs in July at Paul M. Pearson Gardens Housing Community on St. Thomas. Numerous roofs at the Virgin Islands Housing Authority community were damaged from the winds and rains of hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017. FEMA's Public Assistance Program is supporting hurricane repairs at Pearson Gardens. FEMA/Eric Adams

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FEMA P-550 Flyer

Overview of FEMA P-550 | Recommended Residential Construction for Coastal Areas

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FEMA Daily Public Assistance Grant Awards Activity 09-08-2021

FEMA Daily Public Assistance Grant Awards Activity 09-08-2021

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August 27, 2021 - Sept. 2, 2021 - Weekly Obligations Spanish

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August 27, 2021 - Sept. 2, 2021 - Weekly Obligations

Byrne Headshot
Byrne Headshot

NYPD enter their temporary headquarters near the World Trade Center
NYPD Temporary HQ - Sept 11

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FEMA Public Assistance Second Appeals Tracker 09-07-2021

FEMA Public Assistance Second Appeals Tracker 09-07-2021

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Significant Building Code Requirements That Exceed or Are More Specific Than the National Flood Insurance Program

This fact sheet summarizes the more significant flood-resistant provisions of the 2021 International Codes (I-Codes) and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 24-14, Flood Resistant Design and Construction, that are “higher standards” and that are more specific than the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements.

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Building Code Requirements That Exceed or Are More Specific Than the National Flood Insurance Program

This fact sheet summarizes the flood-resistant provisions of the 2021 International Codes (I-Codes) and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 24-14, Flood Resistant Design and Construction, that are “higher standards” and that are more specific than the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements.

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FEMA Policy and Building Code Decision Tree

Substantial Structural Damage and Substantial Damage are two conditions that require a building to improve beyond its pre-damage state. In addition, FEMA Public Assistance (PA) policy also allows the improvement of a damaged building through replacement when the cost of repair would exceed 50% of the replacement cost. This document guides FEMA staff, PA grant applicants or their representatives, state hazard mitigation officers, and others through the process of making these determinations and decisions.

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Seismic Building Codes in the U.S.: A Thirty-Five Year Retrospective of NEHRP Provisions

In retrospect, the NEHRP Recommended Provisions not only provided many critical stepping stones to form the foundation of modern U.S. seismic-resistant codes and standards, but also helped to explore new ways to advance earthquake science and risk reduction technologies. Over the past thirty-five years, many scientists, researchers, engineers, code and standard experts, material industry experts, and professionals from the NEHRP agencies contributed to the success of the NEHRP Provisions. This report captures the history of the NEHRP Provisions and many great benefits it has introduced.

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FEMA P-2156, The Role of the NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions in the Development of Nationwide Seismic Building Code Regulations: A Thirty-Five-Year Retrospective

In retrospect, the NEHRP Recommended Provisions not only provided many critical stepping stones to form the foundation of modern U.S. seismic-resistant codes and standards, but also helped to explore new ways to advance earthquake science and risk reduction technologies. Over the past thirty-five years, many scientists, researchers, engineers, code and standard experts, material industry experts, and professionals from the NEHRP agencies contributed to the success of the NEHRP Provisions. This report captures the history of the NEHRP Provisions and many great benefits it has introduced.

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FEMA P-2139: Short-Period Building Collapse Performance and Recommendations for Improving Seismic Design

Recent analytical studies investigating a wide range of modern seismic-force-resisting systems have predicted collapse rates for short-period buildings that are significantly larger than those observed in earthquakes during the past 50 years. This gap between analytically predicted and historically observed collapse rates in known as the short-period building seismic performance paradox. Additionally, analytically predicted collapse rates for short-period buildings are generally larger than maximum collapse rates used in national model codes and standards to establish seismic design requirements. The FEMA P-2139 series of reports documents a multi-year investigation of the response behavior and collapse performance of different structural systems to identify causes and develop solutions for the short-period building seismic performance paradox. Studies investigated three structural systems: wood light-frame, special reinforced masonry shear wall, and steel special concentrically braced frame systems. Volume 1 summarizes results, conclusions, and recommendations from the three-system specific studies and presents a common understanding of the seismic response and collapse performance of short-period buildings. Volume 2 summarizes results, conclusions, and recommendations from the study of wood light-frame systems. Volume 3 summarizes results, conclusions, and recommendations from the study of special reinforced masonry shear wall systems. Volume 4 summarizes results, conclusions, and recommendations from the study of steel special concentrically braced frame systems.