The Federal Emergency Management Agency's Public Assistance Program (PA Program) provides grants for disaster relief aid to state government agencies, local governments, federally recognized Indian tribes, and private non-profit organisations in the wake of a disaster.[1] The program provides grants for two types of disaster recovery work. The first is emergency work – this includes the debris removal and the preventative measures taken to secure the property and prevent further damage to the property and to public health. The second is permanent work – which covers the measures needed to restore, or replace, the property.[2]
It supplements any federal disaster grant assistance that a business or organization has already received.[3] The federal share of assistance should be less than 75% of the eligible cost of emergency efforts and restoration.[4] The remaining funds are generally allocated by the state government agencies and are distributed amongst eligible applicants.[5]
In order to receive a grant, the applicant must register within 60 days of the disaster, and must be located in a designated disaster area and under the legal responsibility of an eligible applicant. Further, the facility should have been in active use at the time of the disaster; and open to the general public.[6]