Staying "In the Know" with FEMA's Public Assistance Alternative Procedures

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Ronald A. Cuccaro, SPPA

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Sheila E. Salvatore

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David Andrews

THE AUTHOR

“A deliberate application of the Alternative Procedures provisions can provide eligible recipients and sub- recipients with significant benefits…”

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1 Congressional Research Report, Analysis of the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013, March 11, 2013, p. 1.
2 https://www.fema.gov/alternative-procedures.
3 Public Assistance Alternative Procedures Pilot Program Guide for Debris Removal (Version 5) June 28, 2017.
4 Public Assistance Alternative Procedures Pilot Program Guide for Debris Removal (Version 5) June 28, 2017.
5 Public Assistance Alternative Procedures Pilot Program Guide for Permanent Work (Version 3) March 29, 2016.

A deliberate application of the Alternative Procedures provisions can provide eligible recipients and sub-recipients with significant benefits — including an expedited, more flexible and less costly disaster recovery. It can also help improve long-term resiliency and alleviate future losses through sound mitigation efforts. The challenge lies in thoroughly understanding the provisions and how they can be applied with minimal risk.

The biggest risks involve the potential loss of funding for improperly estimated capped-grants or activities that are not completed in a timely manner. States and other eligible entities under the Public Assistance Program can reduce their risks by ensuring that they have expert support and advocacy throughout the PA process from experts who are familiar with and fully understand the program changes — including the recent changes — in order to expedite and optimize recovery from the disaster.