Disaster Assistance to Vermont Communities Tops $1 Million
Release Date: October 3, 2008
Release Number: 1778-002
» More Information on Vermont Severe Storms and Flooding
WILLISTON, Vt. -- Federal disaster aid has topped $1.1 million for two Vermont counties impacted by severe storms and flooding in mid-June. Addison and Franklin counties received the first of Vermont's three presidential disaster declarations this summer on July 15, making local communities eligible to receive federal assistance.
Taking a lead role in helping communities recover is FEMA's Public Assistance (PA) Grant Program. The PA Program is only activated following a presidential disaster declaration and provides supplemental federal disaster grant assistance to applicants including state agencies, local governments, and certain non-profit organizations.
Funding may be provided for the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged facilities that are the responsibility of the applicant, as well as costs incurred for disaster cleanup or emergency actions taken to protect lives or property. The federal share of recovery costs is at least 75 percent. The remaining share is the responsibility of the state and local government or non-profit organization.
FEMA's PA Program may only provide assistance for projects that are located in a disaster-declared area and are the legal responsibility of an eligible applicant. The program cannot provide assistance for projects that are under the jurisdiction of other federal agencies, such as roads and bridges that are a part of the federal highway system or facilities located on federal lands like wildlife refuges and national parks.
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: Friday, 03-Oct-2008 16:31:32