Sacramento, CA…Six California counties impacted by severe winter storms in January 2017, which were not part of the original Disaster Declaration, can now apply for federal disaster assistance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today. At the request of the State, FEMA has amended the Major Disaster Declaration signed by President Trump on March 16 to include six additional counties: Alameda, Calaveras, Contra Costa, Inyo, Modoc and Mono. State agencies, local and Tribal governments, as well as certain private nonprofit organizations, located in those six counties, which sustained damage during severe winter storms from Jan. 18 to Jan. 23, 2017, have 30 days from today to submit Requests for Public Assistance (RPA) to the State of California.

Submitting an RPA to the State is the first step in applying for funding under the FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program. The PA program provides assistance for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities.

Under the amended declaration (DR-4305-CA), federal funding is available to State, Tribal, eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by severe winter storms, flooding, and mudslides in 22 counties: Alameda, Calaveras, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Mendocino, Modoc, Mono, Napa, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Trinity, Tuolumne, and Yolo.

FEMA reimburses applicants for no less than 75 percent of eligible expenses – the remaining 25 percent is the non-federal share. The federal portion is paid directly to the State, which disburses the funds to the applicants.

In addition to PA grants, funds will be available in California under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), which is a cost-share program administered by the State. HMGP provides supplemental financial assistance to public entities and certain private nonprofits to reduce risks to life and property in future disasters.

More information about the PA program is available at www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit. More information about the HMGP is available at www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-grant-program.

Additional information about the declaration is available at www.fema.gov/disaster/4305. More information about applying for the PA program is available at www.caloes.ca.gov/for-governments-tribal.

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