The Public Assistance Program makes funding available to City departments and certain private non-profits for costs that they incurred preparing for, responding to, and recovering from a federally declared disaster. The program provides assistance specifically for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the restoration of facilities and infrastructure.

Under the Public Assistance Program, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides supplemental aid to eligible applicants to help them recover from disasters as quickly as possible. FEMA will work with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM), and your organization to coordinate the operations of the Public Assistance Program.

FEMA has developed Public Assistance eligibility requirements and application procedures in accordance with the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act). These procedures can be very lengthy and complex, depending on the incident. There are a number of steps that the City and private non-profits must take to receive disaster reimbursement through the Public Assistance Program, from documenting costs incurred to requesting a disaster declaration to submitting damage claims.