FEMA PUBLIC ASSISTANCE GRANTS HELP COMMUNITIES
[https://www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/fema-public-assistance-grants-help-communities]


Release Date: 
Jun 18, 2025 

Release Number: 
006 

FEMA PUBLIC ASSISTANCE provides grants to state, local, tribal and
territorial governments, and certain types of private nonprofits such
as houses of worship, hospitals and academic institutions so
communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or
emergencies. 

In Arkansas, Public Assistance funding is provided to state and local
governments and certain private nonprofit organizations and benefits
neighborhoods, cities and counties.

Under the major disaster declaration approved for the APRIL 2-22
severe storms, tornadoes and flooding, 36 counties were designated
eligible for FEMA Public Assistance funding: CLARK, CLAY, CRAIGHEAD,
CROSS, DALLAS, DESHA, FULTON, GREENE, HEMPSTEAD, HOT SPRING, IZARD,
JACKSON, LAFAYETTE, LAWRENCE, LEE, LITTLE RIVER, LONOKE, MARION,
MILLER, MONROE, MONTGOMERY, NEVADA, NEWTON, PIKE, POINSETT, PRAIRIE,
PULASKI, RANDOLPH, SALINE, SCOTT, SEARCY, SEVIER, SHARP, ST. FRANCIS,
STONE AND WOODRUFF.

	* Filing a REQUEST FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE is the first step to apply
for federal reimbursement under FEMA’s Public Assistance program. To
qualify for a grant, state agencies and private nonprofit
organizations must submit projects that are authorized, well
documented, necessary and reasonable. Prospective applicants can
contact their county’s emergency manager to begin the process. The
deadline to submit a _Request for Public Assistance_ is FRIDAY, JUNE
20.

	* Public Assistance funding is reimbursed for _EMERGENCY WORK_ and
_PERMANENT WORK_.

	* _EMERGENCY WORK_ must be completed immediately following a disaster
to save lives, protect public health and safety, protect improved
property, or eliminate or lessen an immediate threat of additional
damage. Work must be completed within six months of the MAY 21
disaster declaration unless the recipient or FEMA authorizes an
extension. The deadline for emergency work is FRIDAY, NOV. 21, 2025. 

	* Emergency work is divided into two categories (A and B):

	* DEBRIS REMOVAL (CATEGORY A): clearing, removing and disposing of
debris when doing so is in the public interest.

	* Debris may include damaged cars and boats as well as vegetative
debris, construction and demolition debris, sand, dirt, gravel,
pebbles and boulders.

	* EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE MEASURES (CATEGORY B) conducted before, during
and after a disaster are eligible if the measures:

	* Eliminate or lessen immediate threats to lives, public health or
safety; or
	* In a cost-effective manner, eliminate or reduce immediate threats
of significant additional damage to improved public or private
property.

	* _PERMANENT WORK_ is the restoration of disaster-damaged, publicly
owned facilities and the facilities of certain private nonprofits.
Work must be completed within 18 months of the MAY 21 disaster
declaration unless the recipient or FEMA authorizes an extension. The
deadline for permanent work is SATURDAY, NOV. 21, 2026. 

	* Permanent work is divided into five categories _(C through G)_:

	* ROADS AND BRIDGES (CATEGORY C)

	* Roads may be gravel or dirt

	* WATER CONTROL FACILITIES (CATEGORY D)

	* Dams and reservoirs, levees and floodwalls, aqueducts 

	* PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT (CATEGORY E)

	* Buildings including all structural and non-structural components
including mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems; contents and
equipment within the building; and furnishings 
	* Equipment includes vehicle and construction equipment 

	* PUBLIC UTILITIES (CATEGORY F)

	* Water storage facilities, power generation, sewage collection 
	* Communication systems

	*  PARKS, RECREATIONAL, OTHER (CATEGORY G)

	* Mass transit, beaches, boat docks, etc.
	* Other facilities that do not fit in the previously mentioned
categories.

Under the Public Assistance program, FEMA provides funding to the
state for 75% of eligible costs of repair or replacement of public
facilities and the applicant covers the remaining 25%. The state
manages the federal funds and directs funding to eligible applicants
that incur the eligible costs. In some cases, the federal cost share
may be increased.

For additional information on the Public Assistance program,
visit fema.gov/assistance/public/process
[https://www.fema.gov/assistance/public/process].