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<br />Q <br /> <br />o <br /> <br />o <br /> <br />FEMA Public Assistance Program: An Overview <br />. The P A Program assists in the restoration of community infrastructure <br />. Supplemental cost reimbursement program <br />· Specific eligibility requirements <br />. FEMA share of eligible costs awarded to State for disbursement to Applicant <br />. Emergency and permanent work for small, large and approved alternate projects are eligible <br />. Special considerations for Hazard Mitigation, Environmental Requirements, Historic Preservation & Cultural <br />Resources, Special Flood Hazard Areas and Insurance Requirements. <br />· Key support: Public Assistance Coordinator (PAC) <br />. Urgent Resources: Immediate Needs Funding <br /> <br />Public Assistance Process Summary <br />. Pre-event Training and Education <br />· Disaster Event <br />. Presidential Declaration: Preliminary Damage Assessment <br />· Applicant's Briefing <br />· Submission of Requests <br />· Kickoff Meeting <br />· Complete Project Worksheets <br />· Validation of Small Projects <br />· Funding <br />· State funds Applicant <br />. IMPORTANT: Timelines (30/60days); Eligibility & Special Considerations; Accurate Scope of Work & Prices; <br />Organized and Available Documentation. <br /> <br />To constantly consult and educate our clients, potential clients and interested parties on the ever-changing Public <br />Assistance Program, we foster information sharing. As such, we have included, for reference only, a portion of a recent <br />paper by Dana Hanson, Florida State PAC, entitled Working Backwards, which concisely emphasizes the salient points <br />of receiving full and fair reimbursements as a subgrantee of the PAP. Dana has no affiliation with Ash Britt, but this is a <br />valuable document that should be disseminated to all Florida communities susceptible to disasters, thus we are <br />incorporating it (see attachment following in this section). <br /> <br />Please refer to Figure I on the following page for an illustrative flowchart of the Public Assistance Process. <br /> <br />City of Hampton, Virginia Reimbursement <br />Following the landfall of Hurricane Isabelle in 2003, the City of Hampton activated AshBritt's standing contract with <br />the Virginia Peninsulas Public Service Authority (VPPSA) to provide disaster recovery services. The scope of work <br />included debris removal, site management, debris reduction by grinding, hazardous tree and stump removal, power <br />generation, vacuum truck support for clogged catch basins, and right-of-entry operations. Additionally, site <br />management and debris reduction services were provided to the cities of Newport News and Poquoson. Our recovery <br />operations were concluded in early March of2004. <br /> <br />Nearly 18 months after completion of the project, FEMA introduced a change to its reimbursement policy regarding <br />stumps less than 24 inches in diameter. Specifically, the FEMA guidance stated that such stumps are considered <br />reimbursable only at the contracted cubic yardage rate for vegetative debris removal. The executed VPPSA agreement <br />provided for payment of stumps of less than 24 inches on a "per stump" unit basis. This change was unfairly applied <br />retroactively to the sub-applicants of the Hurricane Isabelle recovery. Ultimately, the City of Hampton was denied <br />reimbursement on the per stump rate for removal of stumps less than 24 inches, although these had been originally <br />approved by FEMA as eligible for reimbursement. <br /> <br />In the spirit of our public-private partnership, AshBritt reimbursed the City of Hampton $153,519.00, to eliminate the <br />deficit caused by FEMA's retroactive application of this policy. The reimbursement of funds was not a requirement of <br />our Agreement, but was a decision made in support of our client, the City of Hampton. <br /> <br />Our dedication and follow-though with respects to our client's FEMA reimbursements is unmatched, as is our <br />commitment to continuously looking out for the best interests of our clients, whether before, during or after disasters. It <br />is this dedication and commitment that truly sets us apart from our competition. <br /> <br />AshBritl. Inc: I Sunny Isles Beach. FL I RFP No. 08-07-01 <br /> <br />74 <br />