How Public Assistance is Different Than Individual Assistance

The Federal Emergency Management Agency may provide two types of assistance following a presidential disaster declaration: Public Assistance and Individual Assistance. Both programs are independent from each other.

The requirement to be approved for either type of assistance is different. A county can be designated for either type separately, or both together.

Public Assistance provides financial assistance to entities that serve the public. This assistance is in the form of supplemental grants to state, tribal, territorial, and local governments, and certain types of private non-profits so that communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies.

• Federal funding is available to eligible entities include state governments, local governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations, such as schools, hospitals, houses of worship and public utility districts.
• Although funds are awarded to government entities and certain private nonprofits, the Public Assistance program is intended to benefit the public - neighborhoods, cities, counties, states and tribes.
• Public Assistance dollars pay to:
  • clean up disaster- related debris,
  • repair roads and bridges,
  • put utilities and water systems back in order, and
  • restore buildings and equipment such as schools, hospitals, and places that provide community services.
• The program also encourages protection of damaged facilities from future incidents by providing assistance for hazard mitigation measures.
• Learn more about FEMA's Public Assistance program at https://www.fema.gov/assistance/public

Individual Assistance provides direct financial assistance to eligible individuals and families who have sustained losses due to disasters.

• Individuals and households who reside in counties approved for Individual Assistance and have uninsured expenses and serious needs may apply for disaster assistance.
• Individual Assistance is intended to meet survivors' basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts to help pay for temporary housing, emergency home repairs, uninsured personal property losses, and medical, dental and funeral expenses caused by the disaster along with other serious disaster-related expenses.
• Learn more about FEMA's Individual Assistance program at fema.gov/assistance/individual.

For the latest information visit fema.gov/disaster/4788. Follow the FEMA Region 6 X account at X.com/FEMARegion6 or on Facebook at facebook.com/FEMARegion6/.