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Reimbursement & Cost RecoveryConditional

FEMA Public Assistance - Government and Eligible Nonprofit Recovery Costs

FEMA Public Assistance can reimburse eligible emergency and permanent-work costs for state, tribal, territorial, and local governments and certain private nonprofits after a qualifying federal disaster declaration.

Federal Emergency Management Agency and Wisconsin Emergency Management

Who should look at this?

Good fit for: Government/public entities and potentially eligible private nonprofits that are documenting disaster-caused emergency or permanent work and need to understand federal reimbursement requirements.

Potential audience: State, tribal, territorial and local governments and certain eligible private nonprofit organizations

Public Assistance begins with a federal emergency or major-disaster declaration and designated areas. Eligibility then depends on the applicant, facility, work, and cost. Certain private nonprofits have additional eligibility rules.

Government / Public AgencyNonprofitHealthcare / Human ServicesEducationUtility / InfrastructureCivic / Community Organization

What recovery capacity might it support?

Materials & SuppliesVehicles & EquipmentSkilled Labor & TradesProfessional Services & ExpertiseAdministrative & Operational Support

Availability: Conditional on federal disaster declaration and designation

Deadline: Incident- and declaration-specific

Funding / value: Varies by eligible work, cost share, declaration and program rules.

Do not confuse this with:

Not direct household assistance and not a general reimbursement program for ordinary private businesses. A private nonprofit performing emergency services may need a request or established relationship with the legally responsible government entity for certain work.

Applicability

Do not assume FEMA Public Assistance is active for the July 27 tornado. Federal declaration, county designation, applicant eligibility, eligible work, procurement, cost reasonableness, insurance and duplication-of-benefits rules all matter.

Documentation and cost rules

Organizations should preserve contracts, procurement records, invoices, labor/equipment records, proof connecting work to the incident, insurance information, and other cost documentation required by the Public Assistance process.

Prior authorization: varies

Previously incurred costs: varies

FVR is a starting point, not an eligibility determination. Confirm current rules with the administering organization before relying on a grant, reimbursement pathway, tax treatment, or operational resource.