Appendix I › V. Work Eligibility Considerations for Contents

What contents work is eligible, from furniture to files and collections?

FEMA term

Work eligibility: contents (Categories B and E)

Short answer

Eligible: moving and storing contents to prevent more damage, replacing destroyed contents with items of similar age, condition and capacity, treating irreplaceable items, recovering records, and re-shelving replacement library books. Not eligible: new items when used ones are available, new databases, data re-entry or scanning, and replacing rare books, collections or objects.

What FEMA requires

Contents include furnishings, equipment, consumable supplies, files, records, research contents, animals, irreplaceable collections and objects, library books and publications.
Contents may be replaced with different items used for the same general purpose, but eligible funding is capped at the estimated cost of equivalent items.
Irreplaceable items are eligible for condition assessment, stabilization and treatment; replacement of rare books, collections or objects is not.
Research contents and animals are ineligible for replacement if no comparable item or animal is available at a reasonable cost.

<table class="pt-table"><thead><tr><th>Category</th><th>Eligible</th><th>Not eligible</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>B: Emergency</td><td>Removing and storing contents to prevent more damage</td><td>None listed</td></tr><tr><td>E: Restoration</td><td>Replacing destroyed contents with items of similar age, condition and capacity; assessing, stabilizing and treating irreplaceable items; recovering records; re-shelving and cataloging replacement library books</td><td>New for used (unless used isn’t reasonably available); new databases; re-entering data or scanning paper files into computers; deciphering photocopies; research contents or animals with no comparable replacement; replacing rare books, collections or objects</td></tr></tbody></table>

Documentation

An inventory of damaged contents with age and condition, replacement pricing for comparable used or new items, and records of stabilization and treatment for irreplaceable items.

Watch out · Govstar practitioner advice

FEMA funds the equivalent of what you lost, not an upgrade. You may buy different items for the same purpose, but funding is capped at the estimated cost of equivalent items, so price used equivalents where they exist.

Govstar summarizes FEMA’s Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide in plain language and links to the official text. Govstar is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. This is general guidance, not legal advice.