Although disasters are devastating and disruptive, it is important to recognize that every disaster brings about opportunity for communities to improve their conditions and to build a more resilient future. That is, IF communities effectively manage important federal disaster assistance programs such as the FEMA Public Assistance Program.
After a disaster, time is of the essence. It is crucial that communities are well prepared to manage their recovery efforts. Disaster recovery programs, like FEMA Public Assistance, allow for a limited amount of time to identify emergency expenditures, conduct damage assessments, complete debris removal operations, and report their FEMA claim. Not properly documenting these costs or following the FEMA eligibility requirements will result in a loss of funding or adverse audit findings. It is a daunting task for even the most prepared and robust of communities. Communities need a suite of tools to manage the FEMA Public Assistance process quickly and accurately.