FEMA to hold webinar April 21 covering Public Assistance deadlines

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will hold a webinar on April 21 for state, local and territorial government officials to explain deadlines and provide guidance on submitting Requests for Public Assistance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

FEMA is establishing several deadlines for the Public Assistance program to assist states, tribal nations, localities, territories, and eligible private nonprofits in making their requests and submitting their applications for funding for COVID-19-related work conducted under the 100% federal cost share.

The April 21 FEMA webinar will begin at 1 p.m.

How to connect:
• https://fema.zoomgov.com/j/1606928119 – passcode: 0422
• One tap mobile: +16692545252,,1606928119#,,,,*0422# — or +16692161590,,1606928119#,,,,*0422#
• Telephone: 1-669-254-5252, or 1-669-216-1590, or 1-551-285-1373, or 1-646-828-7666 – webinar ID: 160 692 8119; passcode: 0422

Program deadlines
On March 21, 2020, FEMA extended the Request for Public Assistance (RPA) deadline nationally for the COVID-19 pandemic emergency. At the time, FEMA stated that the RPA submission period would remain open for the duration of the Public Health Emergency, as declared by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, unless an earlier deadline is deemed appropriate by the Assistant Administrator, Recovery Directorate.

As of March 31, more than 65% of the U.S. population has been fully vaccinated, caseloads are declining, and the necessity for heightened public health measures is decreasing. FEMA is establishing July 1, 2022, as the deadline for applicants to submit their RPA for the COVID-19 pandemic.

RPAs are used to request funding for specific costs.

FEMA is also establishing Dec. 31, 2022, as the interim deadline for eligible applicants to submit project applications for COVID-19 work completed from the beginning of the incident period on Jan. 20, 2020, through July 1, 2022, the end date for 100% federal funding.

FEMA says these deadlines will help applicants in making funding decisions and completing their project submission to FEMA, and will enable FEMA to process funding that is needed to reimburse applicants for the costs they have incurred in responding to the pandemic over the last two years.

FEMA is developing an interim policy to provide guidance to states, tribal nations, localities, territories, and eligible private nonprofits on the implementation of the established deadlines. This policy will be posted for public comment and stakeholder input prior to finalization and issuance.

Although FEMA has established deadlines for RPAs and project applications for work completed under the 100% cost share, FEMA funding will remain available for eligible work conducted after July 1, 2022, under the 90%/10% cost share until the COVID-19 incident period is closed.

As of March 31, FEMA’s Public Assistance program has provided more than $43 billion to state, local, tribal nation, and territorial governments and eligible private nonprofit organizations to reimburse a wide variety of projects.

For more information, contact FEMA at 202-646-3444 or FEMA-IGA@fema.dhs.gov.