Public Assistance: Rebuilding Your Community Services
Release Date: September 11, 2008
Release Number: 1785-032
» More Information on Florida Tropical Storm Fay
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Violent weather threatens more than homes and people.
As it does during any major disaster, it can also damage or destroy infrastructure - bridges, highways, hospitals, public buildings, parks, electrical distribution systems and water or sewage treatment plants. Weather violence also scatters tons of debris or disrupts communications and requires costly emergency service expenditures to protect an endangered public before, during and after a disaster.
In addition to the many state and federal assistance programs available to help people recover from ravages of Tropical Storm Fay on Aug. 18 - and its flooding that is still happening - the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also offers financial help to communities, county and state agencies as well as certain private non-profit organizations that sustained disaster damage.
That FEMA program is called Public Assistance (PA). It provides supplemental funds for the repair, restoration or replacement of a storm-damaged public infrastructure. It also provides assistance to help reimburse costs associated with debris removal as well as costs of emergency protective measures taken by a community to save lives.
Mold, the insidious invader of flooded structures, may fall under remediating efforts and be eligible under the PA program either as an emergency protective measure in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, or as part of the permanent repair work of eligible facilities.
The PA recovery program also ties in with another FEMA program, Hazard Mitigation, which is designed to help communities avoid or minimize similar future losses by rebuilding stronger and better during a recovery. These long-term measures reduce the chance of recurring costs to taxpayers. They also allow essential public facilities to better withstand damage during a storm and continue functioning.
Under the presidential disaster declaration of Aug. 24 and subsequent orders, the PA program is available to local governments in 37 Florida counties. Those counties are: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Clay, Collier, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gadsden, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Jefferson, Lake, Leon, Liberty, Marion, Martin, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Osceola, Palm Beach, Putnam, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Seminole, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia and Wakulla.
How does PA work?
The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), which administers the PA program, is responsible for briefing local officials in these counties about the assistance available and explaining how to apply. Meetings have already begun. Community officials who wish to submit a request for Public Assistance may contact FDEM for further information about the process.
Federal, state and local teams are compiling assessments of disaster-related damage identified by the state or local representatives, and will prepare reports which outline the scope of repair work needed and the estimated restoration cost.
For projects that are approved, FEMA will reimburse 75 percent of the cost with the state responsible for the remaining 25 percent. These projects typically include such things as debris removal, emergency services related to the storms and flooding. They may include repairing or replacing damaged public facilities. That can include schools, libraries and other public buildings, and repairing roads, bridges, water control facilities, utilities and recreational facilities.
Private non-profit organizations may qualify for assistance to restore certain types of facilities that include educational, utility, emergency, medical, custodial care and other facilities that provide essential government types of services to the public.
Hazard Mitigation experts identify areas where local or state governments can prevent or reduce damages in future disasters. This may take the form of flood-proofing, tornado safe rooms, moving or elevating structures, lining ditches, building bigger culverts, and redesigning bridges to withstand greater flows.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Thursday, 11-Sep-2008 13:20:43