MONTGOMERY, Ala. – State officials estimated $86 million in disaster assistance will help local governments rebuild infrastructure damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Sally.
Public Assistance (PA) is another essential element of disaster response. The PA program benefits everyone – neighborhoods, cities and states, as well as certain private nonprofit organizations – by reimbursing applicants for eligible work on damaged public facilities.
The funding is in addition to over $66 million in federal disaster assistance to date for the September storms that has helped homeowners, renters and small businesses recover from Hurricane Sally.
The major disaster declaration for the State of Alabama was amended on Oct. 9 to include additional FEMA Public Assistance Category C-G in Baldwin, Escambia and Mobile counties. The counties were already eligible for funding for emergency protective measures and debris removal. It also added Conecuh County for all categories of PA. Additional designations may be made at a later date.
Public Assistance dollars:
- Debris removal
- Clean up communities and repair bridges
- Put water systems and utilities back in order
- Repair hospitals and emergency services
- Rebuild schools and universities; and
- Restore damaged public parks so families can enjoy them again.
PA will provide a minimum of 75 percent of the cost to repair or replace disaster-damaged infrastructure from Hurricane Sally.
FEMA estimates the federal share of nearly $64 million will help reimburse local governments
for the emergency work and debris removal that took place in the storm’s immediate aftermath.
Other PA projects are now being developed and approved by local, state, and federal officials. Payments are made on a reimbursement basis.
“Public Assistance grants support the work that helps an entire community recover,” said
FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Allan Jarvis, who is in charge of the agency’s
operations in Alabama “These are federal tax dollars coming back to Alabama to rebuild taxpayer funded infrastructure.”
Public Assistance funding applicants can include:
- state agencies
- local and county governments
- private nonprofit organizations that own or operate facilities that provide essential government-type services
To learn more about FEMA’s Public Assistance Grant Program, visit https://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit
For the latest information on Hurricane Sally, visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4563