Chapter 6 › III.B.1–2 Reassigned Employees

We moved staff from their normal jobs to disaster work. What does FEMA pay?

FEMA term

Reassigned employees

Short answer

Costs for employees reassigned to work outside their normal duties are eligible at their normal pay rate, not the rate for the work they did. A police officer clearing debris is paid at the officer’s rate.

What FEMA requires

Pay is based on the employee’s normal rate, because that is your actual cost.
If the employee is paid from an outside source, such as a federal grant or dedicated funds, their regular hours are eligible only when reassigned to eligible emergency work that source doesn’t fund. FEMA must confirm there is no duplication of benefits first.

Documentation

The employee’s normal assignment and funding source, and daily records of the disaster work performed.

Watch out · Govstar practitioner advice

Document both the employee’s normal assignment and the disaster work, so the reassignment is clear.

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.