Deadline nears for getting assistance from storms, floods this spring

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State agencies, local and tribal governments and certain private nonprofits in Minnesota counties affected by severe storms and flooding March 16-May 25 have just a few days remaining to file their official requests for federal assistance.

The deadline to file a Request for Public Assistance (RPA) is Friday, June 24.

Filing such a request with the State is the first step in the process of applying for federal reimbursements under the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) Grant Program.

Applicants must file RPAs within 30 days of an amendment to a Public Assistance presidential disaster declaration. President Obama issued Minnesota's major disaster declaration on May 10, allowing for Public Assistance for Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Clay, Grant, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lyon, McLeod, Nicollet, Redwood, Renville, Scott, Sibley, Stevens, Traverse, Wilkin and Yellow Medicine counties. The declaration was amended on May 24 to include Becker, Beltrami, Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Otter Tail, Polk, Ramsey, Red Lake, Roseau, Swift and Washington counties and the Red Lake Reservation.

PA grants are obligated to the State to reimburse applicants for expenses they incurred while taking emergency measures to protect lives and property such as debris removal, search and rescue operations and sandbagging. Expenses for repairs to flood-damaged facilities such as roads, bridges, utilities and other public infrastructure may also be covered.

Although the program is oriented to public entities, private nonprofit organizations may apply directly to FEMA via the RPA for uninsured costs of debris removal and emergency protective measures. Additionally, nonprofits may qualify for FEMA assistance to make infrastructure repairs if they provide critical services such as communications, power, water, emergency response or medical treatment.

For details about FEMA's PA program, visit: www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/index.shtm.

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