Detailed Discussion
There are a handful of common pitfalls that the Consolidated Resource Center identifies when determining eligibility for Public Assistance funding:
- Insufficient documentation
- Deferred maintenance
- FEMA does not obligate funds for damages caused by lack of maintenance. An Applicant should conduct and document routine maintenance to avoid this
- Pre-existing damages
- As described in 44 CFR 206.223, FEMA does not obligate funds for damages that occurred prior to the event
- Damages must be the result of the emergency or major disaster event
- Unreasonable costs
- Costs provided by the Applicant need to be reasonable.
- Reasonableness is defined by 2 CFR 200.404 as in its nature and amount, the cost does not exceed that which would be incurred by a prudent person under the circumstances prevailing at the time the Applicant makes the decision to incur the cost
- Improper procurement of contracts
- Legal citation for deferred maintenance
- Not obtaining proper permits