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FEMA

Overview

On January 21, 2021, the Biden administration issued a memorandum to increase federal Category B funding under the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988. This presidential action, among other things, directs FEMA to provide Public Assistance reimbursement "to provide for the safe opening and operation of eligible schools, child-care facilities..." This assistance may include PPE, disinfecting supplies and other eligible assistance. The memorandum and the subsequent updates from the Biden Administration have also increased the cost share from 75% to 100% until July 1, 2022.

[UPDATE March 22, 2022] Recently FEMA released new guidance that extended the “eligibility period” for public and non-profit schools. The following costs are now eligible for FEMA reimbursement at 100% cost share if incurred between Jan. 1, 2020, and July 1, 2022. Essentially, these costs are retroactively eligible since the beginning of the COVID-19 disaster period and until the end of this calendar year.

Two important deadlines have also been established in the latest FEMA guidance. The first is that all Requests for Public Assistance must be submitted by July 1, 2022. Applicants who do not submit an RPA before July 1, 2022, will not be able to apply for FEMA funding for the COVID-19 disaster.

In preparation to meet the FEMA December 30, 2022, deadline to request reimbursement, the State of Vermont is requiring that all FEMA applications be completed and submitted for review by September 30, 2022. More information regarding these new deadlines is available in the FEMA Eligibility guidance linked below.

SU/SDs or Independent Schools are not required to apply for FEMA, but please be aware of the following:

  • If you have completed a FEMA Request for Public Assistance, please do not withdraw the Request for Public Assistance. Keep it as is in the online FEMA grants portal – no additional action items are required from you in the FEMA grants portal

Key Dates

  • January 21, 2020- Start of COVID-19 incident period of eligibility
  • July 1, 2022- Deadline to complete Request for Public Assistance and end of COVID-19 incident period eligibility for 100% reimbursement
  • September 30, 2022- Deadline to submit FEMA application for review by State of Vermont FEMA team
  • December 31, 2022- Deadline to submit applications to FEMA for 100% reimbursement of eligible costs incurred

Guidance

Resource Links