FEMA Public Assistance Resource Index

Public Assistance Eligibility, Work, Cost, and Funding Resources

Explore FEMA Public Assistance by practical program topic. GOVSTAR organizes policy, regulations, official decisions, technical standards, and implementation resources to make eligibility, funding, documentation, and compliance requirements easier to understand and apply.

GOVSTAR resources are independently prepared and supplement, but do not replace, the official FEMA PAPPG, governing statutes and regulations, disaster-specific guidance, or official FEMA determinations.

Browse Public Assistance by Program Need

Each resource area connects related FEMA policy topics with governing regulations, technical guidance, and practical tools. Select a card to explore the GOVSTAR resource page for that subject.

FEMA Public Assistance legal and regulatory framework
Program Authority
01

Program Authority

Program Foundation

Understand the legal, regulatory, and administrative framework governing FEMA Public Assistance and the disaster grant lifecycle.

Key Topics

  • Stafford Act authorities
  • Applicable provisions of 44 CFR
  • Federal requirements in 2 CFR Part 200
  • Disaster declarations and incident periods
  • FEMA, recipient, and applicant roles
Primary PAPPG relationship: Chapters 1–2 Explore Program Foundation
Public Assistance applicant and facility eligibility
Eligibility
02

Eligibility Standards

Applicant & Work Eligibility

Learn how FEMA evaluates applicants, facilities, legal responsibility, disaster causation, and proposed scopes of work.

Key Topics

  • Government and private nonprofit applicants
  • Facility ownership and legal responsibility
  • Disaster-related damage and causation
  • Eligible facilities and work
  • Damage and impact documentation
Primary PAPPG relationship: Chapters 3–5 Explore Eligibility
Public Assistance cost eligibility and documentation
Eligible Costs
03

Eligible Project Costs

Cost Eligibility

Review the standards used to determine whether project costs are reasonable, necessary, allocable, compliant, and adequately documented.

Key Topics

  • Reasonable and necessary costs
  • Direct and indirect costs
  • Labor, equipment, and materials
  • Contract and procurement costs
  • Insurance and duplication of benefits
Primary PAPPG relationship: Chapter 6 and Chapter 9 Explore Cost Eligibility
Federal grant compliance and award administration
Grant Compliance
04

Award Administration

Grant Compliance

Understand the requirements that continue throughout project development, award administration, monitoring, audit, and closeout.

Key Topics

  • Federal procurement standards
  • Environmental and historic preservation
  • Project monitoring and amendments
  • Record retention and audit readiness
  • Final reconciliation and closeout
Primary PAPPG relationship: Chapters 10–12 Explore Grant Compliance
Emergency protective measures after a disaster
Category B
05

Category B Work

Emergency Protective Measures

Explore emergency actions taken to save lives, protect public health and safety, and prevent additional disaster damage.

Key Topics

  • Immediate-threat requirements
  • Emergency operations and protective actions
  • Medical care and sheltering
  • Temporary facilities and emergency repairs
  • Security and access control
Primary PAPPG relationship: Chapter 7, Category B Explore Emergency Measures
Disaster debris removal and monitoring operations
Category A
06

Category A Work

Debris Removal

Review eligibility requirements for removing, managing, transporting, monitoring, reducing, and disposing of disaster-generated debris.

Key Topics

  • Public property and rights-of-way
  • Private property debris removal
  • Hazardous vegetation and waterways
  • Debris monitoring and disposal
  • Quantity and cost documentation
Primary PAPPG relationship: Chapter 7, Category A Explore Debris Removal
Restoration of damaged public buildings and infrastructure
Categories C–G
07

Permanent Work

Facility & Asset Restoration

Understand repair, replacement, relocation, improvements, and mitigation for disaster-damaged public infrastructure and eligible private nonprofit facilities.

Key Topics

  • Roads, bridges, utilities, and water control facilities
  • Buildings, contents, parks, and recreational facilities
  • Repair versus replacement
  • Codes, standards, and hazard mitigation
  • Improved projects, alternate projects, and relocation
Primary PAPPG relationship: Chapter 8 Explore Asset Restoration
FEMA Public Assistance project funding development
Funding Development
08

Funding Development

Project Funding

Learn how project scopes and costs are developed, reviewed, obligated, adjusted, reconciled, and closed.

Key Topics

  • Scope of work development and project formulation
  • Cost estimating and funding reviews
  • Small projects, large projects, and fixed-cost offers
  • Insurance reductions and project amendments
  • Final reconciliation and closeout
Primary PAPPG relationship: Chapters 9, 11, and 12 Explore Project Funding

GOVSTAR Resources and Official FEMA Sources

GOVSTAR uses the FEMA PAPPG as one important source within a broader body of legal, regulatory, technical, audit, and program information. GOVSTAR resources provide independent organization, plain-language explanations, cross-references, analytical tools, and technical assistance.

The PAPPG remains an official FEMA publication authored, maintained, and controlled by FEMA. GOVSTAR materials do not constitute official FEMA policy, approval, eligibility determinations, or funding decisions.

How GOVSTAR Uses the PAPPG View Official FEMA Source
Using these resources: GOVSTAR content is provided for informational, educational, and technical-assistance purposes. Users should verify material eligibility, procurement, insurance, project-development, funding, and compliance decisions against applicable statutes and regulations, the current FEMA-issued PAPPG, disaster-specific guidance, grant terms and conditions, official FEMA communications, and the facts of the individual project.
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