Public Assistance Does Not Include Individual Help
Release Date: April 6, 2001
Release Number: 1363-05
» More Information on Arkansas Severe Storms & Flooding
Little Rock, AR -- Communities in federally declared counties affected by the recent severe storms and flooding may be eligible for assistance with emergency protective measures, debris removal and restoration or replacement of disaster damaged public facilities. Public Assistance refers to the collective public, not to individuals, as in the phrase, "public property."
Eligible applicants are those who are legally responsible for eligible work in the designated disaster area and are one of the following:
- State or state agency
- Local government, such as city, county, or town
- Other state political subdivisions, such as a special district
- Public entities and rural unincorporated communities provided that an application is submitted on their behalf by a political subdivision of the state
Certain private non-profit organizations may also receive assistance. Eligible private non-profits include educational, utility, emergency, medical, rehabilitation, and temporary or permanent custodial care facilities (including those for the aged and disabled), and other facilities that provide services of a governmental nature to the general public.
Counties included in the Presidential flood declaration are Bradley, Clark, Cleveland, Columbia, Conway, Craighead, Dallas, Drew, Franklin, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Lafayette, Lincoln, Miller, Nevada, Newton, Ouachita, Polk, Prairie, Union and White.
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Questions and Answers
Q. What is Public Assistance?
A. Public Assistance is a federal disaster recovery program that provides funds that cover 75 percent of the costs for debris removal, emergency protective measures and the repair, restoration and replacement of public facilities damaged in the wake of a Presidentially declared disaster.
Q. Who funds the other 25 percent of the costs?
A. In Arkansas, the state and the applicant equally share the responsibility for the other 25 percent of the cost.
Q. Who is eligible?
A. State government agencies, local government agencies, Indian tribes, and certain private non-profit agencies.
Q. What kinds of private non-profit agencies would qualify?
A. Organizations that operate and maintain educational, utility, emergency, medical, custodial care and other essential services to the general public that are of a governmental nature.
Q. What are some private, non-profit agencies considered essential?
A. These include museums, zoos, community centers, libraries, homeless shelters, shelter workshops, and facilities which provide health and safety services.
Q. What are the basic eligibility requirements for Public Assistance?
A. Basic eligibility criteria requires that work and related costs must:
- Be a result of the declared event and not a pre-disaster condition.
- Be located within a designated county eligible for assistance.
- Be the legal responsibility of an eligible applicant.
- Not be eligible for assistance under another federal program.
Q. What kinds of work are eligible?
A. Work considered eligible for assistance is classified as either emergency or permanent. Emergency work includes debris removal and other emergency protective measures. Approved debris removal and emergency protective measures must:
- Eliminate immediate threats to lives, public health and safety.
- Eliminate immediate threats of significant damage to improved property or through cost-effective measures.
- Ensure economic recovery of the affected community to the benefit of the community-at-large.
Permanent work includes the repair or replacement of disaster damaged facilities which includes:
- Public roads and streets not on the Federal Aid System. This includes drainage structures and safety features.
- Water control facilities including dams, levees and drainage channels.
- Buildings such as police and fire stations, libraries and public office buildings. Contents and vehicles are included.
- Public park and recreation facilities including playgrounds, swimming pools, tennis courts, golf courses, ball fields and boat ramps.
Q. What if the damaged property is insured? A. Insurance proceeds and salvage are deducted from the grant when applicable.
Last Modified: Monday, 27-Oct-2003 13:16:55