LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Two more Arkansas counties are now eligible to apply for FEMA’s Public Assistance funding to supplement state and local recovery efforts in areas that sustained damage from April 26 to May 19.
Fulton and Searcy counties may now request reimbursements under the Public Assistance grant program. Assistance would cover eligible disaster-related debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair or rebuilding of public facilities, such as roads, bridges, water control facilities, buildings, equipment, public utilities, parks and recreational facilities.
The president’s June 15, 2017, major disaster declaration was amended to add the two counties to 28 counties already designated for Public Assistance. Public Assistance reimbursements are made on a cost-sharing basis (75 percent federal) to municipalities and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work, restoration of infrastructure and direct federal assistance.
The 28 counties previously approved for Public Assistance are Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Clay, Cleburne, Conway, Craighead, Cross, Faulkner, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Mississippi, Montgomery, Newton, Ouachita, Perry, Poinsett, Prairie, Randolph, Saline, Washington, White, and Woodruff.
Application procedures for state and local governments will be explained at state/federal applicant briefings in the affected area. Approved projects are paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA.
FEMA’s Public Assistance program is for repairs by municipalities and certain private nonprofits such as school districts and electric utilities. FEMA’s Individual Assistance program is for assistance to individual disaster survivors. Fulton County was approved earlier for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program.
For updates on the Arkansas response and recovery, follow the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (@AR_Emergencies) on Twitter and Facebook and adem.arkansas.gov. Additional information is available at fema.gov/disaster/4318.
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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
