Mitigation Focus-Public Assistance Briefing for

Hurricane Sandy

Public Assistance

Supplemental financial assistance for response and recovery activities required as a result of a declared disaster.

Who is eligible? • State and local governments• Certain private non-profit organizations

Funding is cost shared at a federal share of no less than 75% of eligible costs.

The Public Assistance Process

Types of Work

Emergency Work:• Debris Removal• Emergency Protective Measures**

Permanent Work:• Roads and Bridge Work• Water Control Facilities• Public Buildings / Equipment**• Public Utilities• Other (Parks, Recreation, etc.)

Category B – Emergency Protective Measures

Actions taken by applicants before, during, and after a disaster to save lives, protect public health and safety and prevent damage to improved property. Includes:• Search and rescue• Protective measures (sandbags, staffing, )• EOC activation

Category E- Buildings/Equipment

Buildings: • Codes/Standards• Equipment• Vehicles• Supplies

Eligible Costs

Must:• Be reasonable to accomplish the eligible work

• Comply with federal, state, and local laws and regulations

• Include deductions of insurance proceeds, salvage value, and purchase discounts.

Eligible Direct Costs

• Salaries, wages and fringe benefits

• Materials

• Applicant owned equipment

• Contract costs

Steps to Getting Assistance

• Applicant must submit a Request for Public Assistance (RPA).

• Applicant must attend a kick-off meeting with their assigned Public Assistance Coordinator and submit damage description to FEMA within 60 days of this meeting.

Request for Public Assistance (RPA)

• Applicant’s official notification to FEMA of intent to apply for P.A.

• Identifies the Applicant (including name and address), and the Primary and Secondary contacts for the Applicant.

Use lpppau@gw.njsp.org to submit your RPA.

Project Worksheet (PW)

• Form used to document the scope of work and cost estimate for a project.

• Supplies FEMA with the information necessary to approve the scope of work and fund the project.

• Modifications/Addendums

Appeals

• Any determination related to federal assistance may be appealed.

• The appeal must be submitted in writing to the State (Grantee) within 60 days of receipt of notice of the action being appealed.

• State has 60 days from receipt of appeal letter to forward it to FEMA.

• FEMA has 90 days to render a decision.

• Two levels of appeal are available:– Regional Director – Executive Associate Director.

Hazard Mitigation

• For a hazard mitigation proposal to be eligible under P.A. or the 406 program, the measure must apply only to the damaged elements of the eligible facility.

• Cost effective measures (404 program) that reduce or eliminate the potential for damages to a facility from a future event. A letter of intent must be submitted to your County OEM office by March 15, 2013.

• Pre-approved mitigation activities are listed in FEMA DAP 9526.1 Appendix A.

Section 406 Mitigation / Public Assistance (PA)

• Hazard Mitigation proposals must be related to eligible disaster-related damages and must directly reduce the potential of future similar disaster damage to the eligible facility.

• FEMA must determine that mitigation measures are cost-effective.

• FEMA Public Assistance makes these eligibility determinations on a project-by-project basis.

Section 404 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

• Eligible projects must reduce the loss of life and property in future disasters by funding mitigation measures during the recovery phase of a natural disaster.

• Eligible projects must be included on the state's long-range mitigation plan, be deemed cost- effective and be approved before funding is made available.

• A letter of Intent must be submitted to your County OEM office by March 15, 2013.

Small Business Loans • Home Disaster Loans – Loans to homeowners or renters to

repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate or personal property owned by the victim.

• Business Physical Disaster Loans – Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business.

• Economic Injury Disaster Loans – Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations.

• Mitigation projects can be eligible.

Federally Funded & State Administered Programs

• HHS Social Services Block Grant (SSBG): administered by NJDHS.

• HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is a program administered by NJDCA.

• The Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund Inc. www.SandyNJReliefFund.org.

• Hire New Jersey Investment Program is a program administered by NJDOL

Questions