FEMA releases policy to simplify Public Assistance Program to support rapid recovery for applicants

On Jan. 9, FEMA released a policy that will simplify the Public Assistance (PA) Program to help communities recover more quickly after presidentially declared events. As the name implies, the PA Simplified Procedures Policy simplifies procedures and streamlines documentation requirements for applicants under the Public Assistance program. This policy release follows the Aug. 2022 announcement to increase the threshold for PA small projects to $1 million. The policy simplifies procedures, reduces administrative burdens, supports equitable delivery of assistance to underserved communities, and enables communities to recover more quickly after presidentially-declared events. The policy defines FEMA’s requirements for funding small projects, and it applies to all public assistance projects up to $1 million from major disasters and emergencies declared on or after the date of issuance.