Public Assistance, Partnership,Keys to Mississippi Recovery 

Release Date: August 10, 2007
Release Number: 1604-587

» More Information on Mississippi Hurricane Katrina

BILOXI, Miss. -- Re-opened parks and beaches, school groundbreaking ceremonies, and fishing boat lights strung across the southern evening horizon are just a few of the signs pointing to Mississippi's steady recovery from Hurricane Katrina. They are also tangible markers of the partnership of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the state, and local officials in recovery efforts.

"This partnership is the engine driving the Public Assistance program," said Sid Melton, director of the Mississippi Transitional Recovery Office.  "Public Assistance is helping to fuel the recovery."

What is the Public Assistance program and what roles do the partners play?

FEMA's Public Assistance program was authorized by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. After a declared disaster, the program pays for eligible land and marine debris removal, for emergency protective measures, repair of eligible roads and bridges, water control facilities, public buildings and equipment, utilities, parks and other recreational facilities.

FEMA approves grants and provides technical assistance to the state and applicants. The state helps educate applicants about the program and the application process and distributes and monitors grant monies. Local and state applicants are responsible for identifying storm damage, for providing documentation and managing the funded projects.

Who is eligible for Public Assistance?

Besides state and local governing entities such as cities, towns, and counties, federally recognized Indian tribes, and some Private Nonprofit (PNP) organizations can apply for PA grants. PNPs that own or operate facilities that provide services the government would otherwise provide may qualify. Parochial schools, and schools of higher education, as well as some community senior centers would fall into the eligible private nonprofit category because each provides a service that the government does.

How do funds get to the applicants?    

"The program's tool is the project worksheet or PW," said Melton. "The PW is a dynamic record of the life of the grant. It's used to collect information and provide justification for the project. It's subject to change; cost estimates may need to be adjusted."

Before developing the PW, the state and federal governments hold a kickoff meeting with applicants, briefing them on what damage or work is eligible. After the eligible work is identified, MEMA and FEMA jointly visit the potential project. The PW is compiled by the applicant after that visit.

The PW describes the eligible work, the scope of the proposed project and provides estimates of the costs to repair damage. Documentation is the backbone of the PW. The state provides applicants both educational and technical assistance in completing the PW. The federal government reviews the completed PW and then obligates the funds when the project is approved. Once obligated, the grant money is transferred to the state.

Applicants must request those funds from the state. MEMA reviews both the documentation and the formal request. At times, a PW must be revised as more information becomes available such as cost estimate adjustments. That step may require a rewrite of another version of the PW.

The project must be completed before final funding.

To date, FEMA has approved more than 20,000 PWs submitted by Mississippi, obligating more than $2.2 billion dollars for the state's recovery.

"Mississippi has paid about $1.2 billion to applicants," said Mike Womack, director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). "We've assigned staff to assist with the PW process and accountants to help gather documentation to satisfy our requirements. It's a complex process but ensures fairness and accuracy. Grant monies are continually released."

Congress recently waived the 10 percent grant match required of applicants to help expedite the PW process and to ease the financial pressures of local and county governments with tax bases diminished by the storm. The federal government has allocated $8 billion in Public Assistance funds for the Gulf Coast recovery from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

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, 10-Aug-2007 09:52:17