LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Disaster recovery officials from the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) and FEMA urge disaster-impacted Arkansas counties, municipalities and nonprofits to submit Requests for Public Assistance (RPAs) to ADEM no later than Aug. 8.
The RPA is an official, required notification that an organization will seek 75% reimbursement from FEMA for eligible disaster-related repairs to infrastructure (such as roads, bridges, parks and public utilities), debris removal and emergency protective measures such as law enforcement overtime.
RPA forms and additional information are available on the ADEM website, www.adem.arkansas.gov/public-assistance.
Seventeen Arkansas counties and their municipalities qualify for Public Assistance (PA) related to the flooding that occurred from May 21 to June 14: Arkansas, Chicot, Conway, Desha, Crawford, Faulkner, Franklin, Jefferson, Johnson, Lincoln, Logan, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Searcy, Sebastian and Yell counties.
Who is eligible for Public Assistance?
Cities, counties, state agencies and certain private nonprofit organizations can apply for FEMA Public Assistance grants. Nonprofits may qualify if they own or operate facilities that provide services the government would otherwise provide. For example, parochial schools, schools of higher education, electric co-ops and some community senior centers would be eligible.
After a presidentially declared disaster, the PA program reimburses eligible applicants for debris removal from land and waterways; emergency protective measures; and repairs to roads and bridges, water control facilities, public buildings and equipment, utilities, parks and other recreational facilities.
FEMA reviews and approves the grant applications, and it provides technical assistance to the state and the applicants. ADEM helps educate applicants about the program and the application process, and it distributes and monitors the grant funds. Applicants are responsible for identifying storm damage, providing documentation and managing the projects.
For updates about the Arkansas flooding, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4441 and follow us on Twitter at @AR_Emergencies and @FEMARegion6.
