HOW PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IS DIFFERENT THAN INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE
[https://www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/how-public-assistance-different-individual-assistance-1]


Release Date: 
Th4 2, 2024 

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. 

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROVIDES 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 including
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, and states. 

	* Public Assistance dollars pay to:

	* clean up disaster-related debris,
	* repair roads and bridges,
	* put utilities and water systems back in order,
	* 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 in counties approved for Individual
Assistance with 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.
[https://www.fema.gov/assistance/individual]

For the latest information, visit 4765 | FEMA.gov
[https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4765] or 4766 | FEMA.gov
[https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4766]. Follow FEMA on X, formerly known
as Twitter, at twitter.com/femaregion1
[https://twitter.com/femaregion1] and at facebook.com/fema
[https://www.facebook.com/fema].

For updates on the Rhode Island response and recovery, follow the
Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency on Twitter at
twitter.com/RhodeIslandEMA [http://twitter.com/RhodeIslandEMA], on
Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandEMA
[http://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandEMA], or visit www.riema.ri.gov
[http://www.riema.ri.gov].