• Public Assistance (PA) - Only Categories A (debris removal) and B (emergency protective measures) can be authorized under an emergency emergency declaration. Categories C-G (permanent work) are not available under an emergency declaration. Emergency declarations often include only Category B and will typically be limited to DFA, absent damage assessments showing significant need for financial assistance. This assistance is generally provided on a 75% federal, 25% non-federal cost sharing basis.
• Individual Assistance (IA) - The Individuals and Households Program (IHP) is the only form of IA that may be authorized under an emergency declaration. Authorization of IHP under an emergency is rare. Housing Assistance under IHP is provided at a 100% federal share, while Other Needs Assistance under IHP requires a 25% non-federal cost share.
• The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) is not available for emergency declarations.

A Governor or Tribal Chief Executive may request an emergency declaration in advance or anticipation of an imminent incident that threatens destruction – but there are statutory and regulatory requirements that need to be met.

• Requests must prove that the cited emergency protective measure needs are beyond the capability of the State and affected local governments/Indian tribal government
• Identify specific unmet emergency needs that can be met through DFA. Such DFA may include, but not limited to, personnel, equipment, supplies, and evacuation assistance.
• Pre-positioning of assets generally does not require a declaration. Assistance made available under a pre-disaster emergency declaration will typically be Category B (emergency protective measures), limited to DFA
• FEMA may require damage assessments and/or verified cost estimates if other types of assistance are requested

The President can declare an emergency if the primary responsibility rests with the federal government. The President can do this without any request from a head of state, although heads of state can still submit requests.

The President can declare a major disaster for any natural event, including hurricanes, tornados, storms, high water, wind-driven water, tidal waves, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, mudslides, snowstorms, or droughts, regardless of cause. If the President determines said event has caused damage beyond the capabilities of state and local governments to respond. A major disaster declaration provides a wide range of federal assistance programs for individuals and public infrastructure, including funds for both emergency and permanent work.

Not all programs are activated for every disaster. The determination of which programs are authorized is based on the types of assistance specified in the Governor’s/Tribal Chief Executive’s request and the needs identified during the joint PDA and subsequent PDAs.

FEMA disaster assistance programs are as follows:

1. Individual Assistance - Assistance to individuals and households, which may include:

• Individuals and households program
• Crisis counseling
• Disaster case management
• Disaster unemployment assistance
• Disaster legal services
• Disaster supplemental nutrition assistance

2. Public Assistance - Assistance to State/Tribal/local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities, which may include the following categories:

• Debris removal
• Emergency protective measures
• Roads and bridges
• Water control facilities
• Buildings and equipment
• Utilities
• Parks, recreational and other facilities

This includes assistance to State, Tribal, and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations to prevent or reduce long term risk to life and property from natural hazards.

When evaluating requests for major disasters and making recommendations to the President, FEMA considers the following factors:

• Estimated cost of the assistance - FEMA evaluates the estimated cost of Federal and non-Federal public assistance against the population to give some measure of the per capita impact. FEMA uses a per capita amount as an indicator that the disaster is of such severity and magnitude that it might warrant Federal assistance, and adjusts this figure annually, based on the Consumer Price Index.
• Localized impacts - FEMA evaluates the impact of the disaster at the county and local government levels, as well as at the American Indian and Alaskan Native Tribal Government levels, because, at times, there are extraordinary concentrations of damages that might warrant Federal assistance even if the statewide per capita is not met. This is particularly true where critical facilities (such as major roadways, bridges, public buildings, etc.) are affected or where localized per capita impacts are extremely high. For example, localized damages may be in the tens or even hundreds of dollars per capita, even though the overall per capita impact is low.
• Insurance coverage in force - FEMA considers the amount of insurance coverage that is in force or should have been in force as required by law and regulation at the time of the disaster, and reduces the amount of anticipated assistance by that amount.
• Hazard Mitigation - To recognize and encourage mitigation, FEMA considers the extent to which mitigation measures contributed to the reduction of disaster damages. This could be especially significant in those disasters where, because of mitigation, the estimated public assistance damages fell below the per capita indicator.
• Recent multiple disasters - FEMA also considers the disaster history within the last twelve-month period to better evaluate the overall impact. FEMA considers declarations under the Stafford Act as well as declarations by the Governor/ Chief Tribal Executive and to the extent they have expanded their own funds
• Other federal agency assistance programs - FEMA also considers programs of other Federal agencies because at times their assistance programs more appropriately meet the needs created by the disaster.

• Concentration of damage - High concentrations of damages to individuals, such as destroyed or damaged housing, may indicate a greater need for Federal assistance than widespread and scattered damages.
• Trauma - The degree of trauma to the community is considered, with special attention to large numbers of injuries and deaths, large scale disruptions to normal community functions and services, and emergency needs, such as extended or widespread losses of power or water.
• Special populations - FEMA considers the impact of the disaster on special populations, such as the low-income, the elderly, and the unemployed.
• Voluntary agency assistance - The capabilities of voluntary, faith, and community-based organizations are taken into consideration, as these entities play an important role in meeting both the emergency and recovery needs of individuals impacted by disasters.
• Insurance - Stafford Act assistance is supplemental in nature, and therefore the level of insurance coverage is taken into account; primarily to qualify the scope of necessary assistance.
• Damaged residences - severity and number - severity and number - When conducting joint Preliminary Damage Assessments, FEMA evaluates the total number of homes destroyed and damaged, as well as evaluates the accessibility and habitability of the dwellings and the community.