Chapter 7 › XIII.V Snow-Related Activities

When will FEMA pay for snow removal?

FEMA term

Snow assistance

Short answer

Only when the President declares a snowstorm or specifically authorizes snow assistance, and only for a continuous 48-hour period each applicant chooses. Emergency declarations never include snow assistance.

What FEMA requires

Eligible snow work: de-icing, salting, sanding, snow dumps and snow removal during the 48 hours.
The period may be extended 24 hours where snowfall exceeds the record by at least 50 percent.
Once your period is approved, you can’t change it, and contracts covering longer periods are funded only for the 48 hours.
Other emergency measures, such as search and rescue and sheltering, aren’t limited to the 48 hours.
Snow clearing needed to perform other eligible work, such as reaching downed power lines, is eligible outside the window.

Documentation

Records showing the start and end of your chosen 48-hour period, and labor, equipment and contract costs within it. See PAPPG Appendix K.

Watch out · Govstar practitioner advice

Pick the 48 hours with your heaviest costs, not the first 48. You can’t change the choice later.

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.