Chapter 4 › II.B.2 Within Designated Area

Does the work have to be inside the declared area?

FEMA term

Minimum work eligibility: within the designated area

Short answer

Yes. The facility must be located, and the work performed, in an area designated for the declaration. Sheltering, evacuation and emergency operations center activities are the exception: they may take place outside the area as long as they serve the designated area. Work on a facility outside the area is ineligible, even if it protects a facility inside it.

What FEMA requires

The facility must be located, and the work performed, in the designated area.
Sheltering, evacuation and EOC activities may occur outside the designated area, but must be for activities resulting from it.
Work on a facility outside the designated area is ineligible even if an eligible applicant is legally responsible for it, including work outside the area to protect a facility inside it.
Tribal declarations usually do not define geographic areas. For Tribal Nations, FEMA decides eligibility based on legal responsibility and whether the work is required because of the incident.

Documentation

For small and large projects: the facility location (address or GPS coordinates), or a certification that the facility and the work are within the designated area.

Watch out · Govstar practitioner advice

Check which categories of work each county is designated for before you claim. An area can be designated for emergency work but not for permanent work.

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.