Let’s put Category B in context. FEMA has defined a series of categories of work and lettered them as A through G plus Z. Categories A and B are emergency work, meaning work that is done before, during, or immediately following a disaster. Categories C through G address permanent work. Permanent work are normally larger capital projects that rebuild public infrastructure such as buildings, bridges, roads, water control facilities. What is Category A? Category A relates to the removal of debris.
And Z? Category Z is an un-documented category that is used by states to recover grant administrative costs. So that’s categories A to Z.
When dealing with federal programs, there is always a necessary discussion of the predicating laws. First, this grant program is authorized by Congress in the Robert T Stafford Act. This is presented on Page 1, as it should be. I am looking at the FEMA Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide. You can download this PDF from our links or FEMA. Same document. You’ll want the April 2018 version, or later. I like having the current and the most previous.
Other laws that relate are both 44CFR200 and 2CFR200. Often, if you see a phrase in the Papa-G, it is lifted literally from the underlying law. You won’t know unless you look. You do not need to know on day one. In time, these obscurities become a power-up weapon on your belt. That’s later.
I’ll cover eligibility in Episode 5, the next episode. The two key issues related to the type of organization and the type of work. So stay tuned.