Public Assistance Program

1. Public Assistance Program Angi Whatley Ford 404.635.7024

2. General Declaration Information • FEMA-3218-EM-GA • Declared September 5, 2005 • Incident Period August 29, 2005 and continuing • All 159 counties are eligible for assistance • Reimbursements must be related to Emergency Protective Measures (Category B), 44 CFR 206.

3. Eligible Sub-Applicants • Local Governments • Certain Private Non-Profit Organizations • Those providing essential government services and that meet federal criteria for being an approved PNP • State Agencies

4. Emergency Protective MeasuresEligible Reimbursements • Security at Shelter Locations or Centers (overtime only) • Reasonable equipment costs associated with evacuation, security and life safety measures • Food, water, ice and other essential needs to assist evacuees • Emergency mass care and shelters when such can not be provided by volunteer agencies – only actual costs will be reimbursed to local governments • Reasonable Contract Costs – must have been reduced to written contracts following the event

5. Evacuation Costs • Transportation with driver, when evacuating from disaster impacted areas • Shelter operations (when non-Volunteer Shelter) • Labor Costs: • Overtime, backfill costs (overtime only), temp labor, reasonable contract costs • Travel and per diem of eligible employees • Local transportation to shelters • Essential Costs (food, water, personal items)

6. Short Term Sheltering • Shelter Operations (JRRCs included) • Overtime for state agency or local government staff that assisted with ARC shelters • Overtime for state agency or local governments that were requested to open a shelter that did not involve ARC

7. ReasonableSheltering Costs • Phone banks • Facility lease or rental costs (when not volunteer organization shelter) • Facility operating costs (when not volunteer organization shelter) • Supplies* for shelters that are reasonable and prudent (cots, towels, linens, personal comfort kits, etc) *some supplies may be subject to salvage values

8. Applicant owned equipment (the FEMA cost code will be used, which does not include operator labor) • Contract costs (reasonable meal preparation, contract security, shelter management, sheltering provided by another organization under contract with the Local or State government (costs must be reasonable and similar to what it would have cost the government to provide the same level of service) • Cleaning and restoration to pre-disaster condition

9. Interim Sheltering Intended only for those persons in a mass care shelter • Must be provided by an eligible sub-applicant • Rental costs or leases for sheltering evacuees in hotels, apartments, etc for up to 12 months. • Must be Fair Market Rate for the area • Rental or lease of necessary furniture to make facilities habitable

10. Medical Care for Shelters Nursing Services: • First aid assessment • Medical referrals • Care for individuals with chronic conditions including medications • Ensuring that shelters are sanitary • Monitoring and reporting abusive conditions • Supervising volunteer and paid medical staff

11. When sheltering evacuated hospital patients, operating costs are eligible: • Triage • Transportation • Tests • Medication used to stabilize patients • Long term treatment is NOT eligible

12. If Evacuee becomes ill at shelter… • Transportation to hospital for further treatment • Treatment at hospital in Urgent or Emergency Care • Diagnosis • Testing and stabilization • Long term treatment is NOT eligible

13. Vaccinations When administered to protect health and safety of shelter population or emergency workers Tetnus Hepatitis Tuberculosis Flu Pneumonia

14. Insurance, Medicaid, Medicare If any treatment is covered, costs must be subtracted from the eligible costs once recovered.

15. Transportation Costs If evacuee requests to be transported back to point of origin or another location, transportation costs are eligible. These costs must be tracked by individual for destination location, date of travel, mode of travel and cost of travel. Costs must be reasonable.

16. Increases in the Provision of Governmental Services • Schools may be reimbursed for purchasing/renting additional facilities (ie. portable classrooms) with reasonable support services • Police/Fire may provide extra security at shelters based on need. • Judicial Services’ overtime costs may be reimbursed as a result of increased population.

17. Ineligible Costs • Volunteer labor costs • Costs associated with donated goods or resources • Long term housing • Debris removal • Permanent repairs to damaged facilities

18. Process for Reimbursement • Contact GEMA and request assistance under the Public Assistance Program • Meeting will be held with jurisdictions to discuss eligible costs, if requested • Must submit all eligible costs (please include summaries) to OHS-GEMA in the form of Project Worksheets*, along with back up documentation • Must be approved by FEMA for eligibility and reasonableness • Must sign a Grantee-Sub Grantee Agreement with OHS-GEMA before reimbursements will be provided • Timeframe of reimbursements unknown at this time *Project Worksheets (PWs) can be found on OHS-GEMA’s website along with other necessary forms

19. Documentation • Please keep a record of all costs associated with emergency measures • Document meetings, telephone conversations, etc. to note any decisions made that would effect your reimbursement • All reimbursements must be reasonable costs • Submit actual costs on FEMA forms or agency reports; agency reports must include same level of detail as FEMA forms • Contact OHS-GEMA Public Assistance if you have any questions - 1-800-TRY-GEMA