FEMA Public Assistance Program

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) Program provides supplemental federal disaster grant assistance for debris removal; emergency protective measures; and the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged, publicly owned facilities and the facilities of certain private nonprofit organizations. The PA Program also encourages protection of these damaged facilities from future events by providing assistance for hazard mitigation measures during the recovery process. The federal share of assistance is not less than 75% of the eligible cost for emergency measures and permanent restoration from major disasters or emergencies declared by the President.

Ohio EMA Public Assistance Website

FEMA Assistance for Governments and Private Non-Profits After a Disaster

State Disaster Relief Program

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) Program provides supplemental federal disaster grant assistance for debris removal; emergency protective measures.

The State Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) is implemented at the Governor’s discretion, when federal assistance criteria are not met. Local governments and eligible private nonprofit organizations must apply to the program through a written letter of intent within 14 days of the incident. Eligible assistance mirrors the FEMA PA Program. The supplemental assistance is cost-shared between the state and the applicant and the cost share varies depending on the type of natural disaster (50/50 for snow emergencies and 75/25 for all other natural disasters). For snow events, only those entities included in a gubernatorial declaration are eligible to apply. In addition, in order to be eligible for reimbursement, the applicant’s expenditures must exceed ½ of 1 percent of their total annual budget.

Types of Eligible Applicants

There are four types of eligible applicants for public assistance. If an entity meets the requirements of one of the types, the applicant may be eligible to receive public assistance.

1. State Government Agencies
2. Local Governments and Special Districts
   Any county, city, village, town, district, or other political subdivision of any state and includes any rural community, unincorporated town or village, or other public entity for which an application for assistance is made by a state or political subdivision thereof. Other state and local political subdivisions may be eligible if they are formed in accordance with state law as a separate entity and have taxing authority. These include, but are not limited to, school districts, irrigation districts, fire districts, and utility districts.
3. Private Nonprofit Organizations
   Private nonprofit organizations or institutions that own or operate facilities that are open to the general public and that provide certain services otherwise performed by a government agency. These services include:
   • Education (Colleges / Universities, Parochial and Other Private Schools)
   • Utility (Systems of Energy, Communication, Water Supply, Sewage Collection and Treatment, or Other Similar Public Service Facilities)
   • Emergency (Fire Protection, Ambulance, Rescue, and Similar Emergency Services)
   • Medical (Hospital, Outpatient Facility, Rehabilitation Facility, or Facility for Long-Term Care for Mental or Physical Injury or Disease)
   • Custodial Care (Homes for the Elderly and Similar Facilities Providing Institutional Care but Do Not Require Day-to-Day Medical Care)
   • Other Essential Governmental Services (Museums, Zoos, Community Centers, Libraries, Homeless Shelters, Senior Citizen Centers, Rehabilitation Facilities, Shelter Workshops and Facilities that provide Health and Safety Services of a Governmental Nature. Low-Income Housing, Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation, Programs for Battered Spouses, Transportation to Medical Facilities, and Food Programs are Examples of Health Services.)
4. Federally recognized Native American Tribes, Alaskan Native Tribal Governments, Alaskan Native village organizations or authorized tribal organizations and Alaskan Native village organizations.

Assistance from FEMA

In order to qualify for disaster assistance for individuals from FEMA, Warren County must be covered by a Presidential Disaster Declaration and your losses must have occurred here. Secondly, if you have insurance, you must file a claim with your insurance company. Also see FEMA’s fact sheet, Is disaster assistance still available if I have insurance?

Two types of disaster assistance, "Housing Needs" and "Other than Housing Needs," are available to individuals, families and businesses in an area whose property has been damaged or destroyed and whose losses are not covered by insurance. For additional information on this program, please visit FEMA’s Individual Assistance.

State of Ohio Individual Assistance Program

The State Individual Assistance (IA) Program is designed to provide grants for disaster-related unmet needs to individuals and families that have uninsured essential private property damages or losses. The disaster must be declared by local government(s), the Governor and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and would not be declared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The Ohio Emergency Management Agency developed the State IA Program in 2000 and it was authorized by the General Assembly in the 2002-2003 budget. The State IA Program does not duplicate disaster assistance from any other available sources, but fills a gap for those who have serious and essential unmet needs or losses not addressed by insurance, the SBA, other state agencies and voluntary agencies/non-governmental organizations.

Once the Program is available, an applicant in an eligible county must first apply for a home/personal property disaster loan from the SBA and be denied or determined ineligible for a loan. After being declined by SBA, the applicant may then complete the registration process for the State IA Program.

The damages or losses must fall within the following categories and meet all associated eligibility criteria: Real Property (damage to an owner-occupied residence); Personal Property (damage to essential major appliances and furniture of a homeowner or renter). Not all damages or losses caused by the disaster may qualify for reimbursement. Eligibility determination for an award is based on site inspections for real and personal property as well as verification of requested documentation.

Small Business Administration Disaster Loans

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) can make federally subsidized loans to repair or replace homes, personal property or businesses that sustained damages not covered by insurance. The Small Business Administration can provide three types of disaster loans to qualified homeowners and businesses:

• Home Disaster Loans are applicable to homeowners and renters to repair or replace disaster-related damages to home or personal property.
• Business Physical Disaster Loans are applicable to business owners to repair or replace disaster-damaged property, including inventory, and supplies.
• Economic Injury Disaster Loans provide capital to small businesses and to small agricultural cooperatives to assist them through the disaster recovery period.

For many individuals, the SBA disaster loan program is the primary form of disaster assistance. To learn more about how to apply for SBA disaster loan assistance, visit Disaster Loan Assistance.

The list of resources below are to assist the local jurisdictions within Warren County conduct damage assessments following a catastrophic event.

Damage Assessment Field Guide

This field guide has been designed to serve as a quick reference tool to be utilized by officials conducting damage assessments for homes and businesses.

Damage Assessment Field Guide

Reporting Public Damages

Public damages are those costs and damages incurred by state (agencies and universities) and local governments (townships, cities, counties, villages, schools and special districts) and certain private nonprofit organizations. Only those costs/damages that are a DIRECT result of the disaster should be reported. More information about the assistance available to public entities can be found under the Assistance for Government/Private-Non-Profits tab above.

The damages that will be considered related to public entities fall into the following categories:

• Debris Clearance
• Emergency Protective Measures
• Road Systems
• Water Control Facilities
• Public and Private Nonprofit Buildings, Facilities, and Equipment (including schools and universities)

The impact on homes, businesses, agriculture, and the citizens of a community are also considered in addition to the physical impacts on a jurisdiction.

The following forms are available for use by local jurisdictions during disaster events:
Damage and Needs Assessment Form for Local Jurisdictions
Site Estimate Form for Local Jurisdictions

Post Storm Damage can be reported at https://form.jotform.com/232005489556157

Disaster-Related Building Inspections

After a disaster, your home/business may be subjected to certain inspections. The Disaster-Related Building Inspections List summarizes the inspections that could take place following a disaster incident or event in your community. Your property may be subject to some or all of these inspections. You are strongly encouraged to contact your local building, zoning, and/or floodplain administrator prior to repairing your damaged structure to ensure that all necessary permits are obtained.