Though there is continuing debate on the underlying cause(s), data clearly supports that natural disasters are occurring with increasing frequency and at a greater cost to the American public (whether personally or through...more
5/2/2025
/ Executive Orders ,
Federal Funding ,
FEMA ,
Government Agencies ,
Hurricane Season ,
Natural Disasters ,
OMB ,
Proposed Rules ,
Public Assistance ,
Regulatory Reform ,
State and Local Government
We are one month into the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season and already have our first named storm, with significant impacts across some portions of the Gulf States. We have seen a Governor declared emergency in Texas and a...more
Historically, the courts have had little involvement in review of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) decisions regarding the billions of dollars of federal disaster recovery funding that FEMA administers...more
As the 2023 Hurricane season continues, the depleting Disaster Relief Fund isn't the only thing that participants in FEMA's programs should be concerned about. The increased focus on the rising costs of disasters and the...more
In June, FEMA issued a second appeal decision that seemed incorrect, so we looked into it. The decision – available here – denied a Public Assistance second appeal filed by the East Boulder County Water District (District),...more
Many of us can recall the famous tale of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears": A girl wanders into a home and tries multiple things, rejecting them until she finds the one that is just right. Appealing an unfavorable FEMA Public...more
On October 13, 2022, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Xavier Becerra, once again renewed the declaration of a Public Health Emergency (PHE) under the Public Health Service Act due to...more
It has now been two weeks since Hurricane Ian made its historic landfall on the west coast of Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, tying with several other storms as the fifth-strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in...more
On September 28, 2022, FEMA issued a memorandum to Regional Administrators clarifying the agency's 2019 list of approved codes, specifications, and standards that may be required for Public Assistance-funded projects. This...more
Our thoughts are with our colleagues, clients, and friends affected by Hurricane Ian as it continues to wreak havoc on the State of Florida. At this time, safety of residents, search and rescue, and support of critical...more
On September 6, 2022, FEMA publicly released its "Proposed Approach" for dealing with the potential duplication of benefits (DOB) of patient care revenue to public assistance grants. Before this date, FEMA policy statement on...more
On April 1, 2022, new information was released regarding the final date that Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will accept new applicants into its Public Assistance (PA) Program and setting a deadline for submission...more
The extensive destruction left by Hurricane Ida is simply astonishing; the trail of impact from South Louisiana all the way through to New York and New Jersey is unprecedented. Recovery from the damage to infrastructure will...more
Just before the holidays, FEMA published an 86-page notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register regarding a change to the "Estimated cost of the assistance" disaster declaration factor that FEMA uses to review a...more
Documentation Critical to Florida Utility's FEMA Reimbursement Arbitration - A Panel consisting of Judges Beardsley, Drummond, and Russell has determined the Florida Keys Electric Cooperative is entitled to partial...more
Building upon our prior alerts for the COVID-19 Pandemic, including guidance on eligible medical care costs and alternate care sites, the FEMA streamlined application and specific tips for hospitals and other medical...more
The President has now approved 56 major disaster declarations under the Stafford Act, one for each of the 50 states, five territories, and Washington, D.C., giving FEMA the authority to reimburse eligible applicants for costs...more
While communities that regularly experience natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes are familiar with FEMA's Public Assistance process, the President's recent declaration of a nationwide emergency under...more