Eligible Applicants for FEMA Public Assistance

Four types of entities are eligible applicants for public assistance. If an entity meets the requirements of one of the types, the Applicant may be eligible to receive Federal disaster assistance.

1. State Government Agencies
2. Local Governments, and Special Districts
   Any county, city, village, town, district, or other political subdivision of any State and includes any rural community, unincorporated town or village, or other public entity for which an application for assistance is made by a State or political subdivision thereof.

Other State and local political subdivisions may be eligible if they are formed in accordance with State law as a separate entity and having taxing authority. These include, but are not limited to, school districts, irrigation districts, fire districts, and utility districts.

3. Private Non-Profit Organizations
   Private Nonprofit organizations or institutions that own or operate facilities that are open to the general public and that provide certain services otherwise performed by a government agency. These services include:
   • Education
     Colleges and universities
     Parochial and other private schools
   • Utility
     Systems of energy, communication, water supply, sewage collection and treatment, or other similar public service facilities.
   • Emergency
     Fire protection, ambulance, rescue, and similar emergency services.
   • Medical
     Hospital, outpatient facility, rehabilitation facility, or facility for long-term care for mental or physical injury or disease.
   • Custodial Care
     Homes for the elderly and similar facilities that provide institutional care for persons who require close supervision, but do not require day-to-day medical care.
   • Other Essential Governmental Services
     Museums, zoos, community centers, libraries, homeless shelters, senior citizen centers, rehabilitation facilities, shelter workshops and facilities that provide health and safety services of a governmental nature. Health and safety services are essential services that are commonly provided by all local governments and directly affect the health and safety of individuals. Low-income housing, alcohol and drug rehabilitation, programs for battered spouses, transportation to medical facilities, and food programs are examples of health services.
4. Federally recognized Indian Tribes, Alaskan Native Tribal Governments, Alaskan Native village organizations or authorized tribal organizations and Alaskan Native village organizations. This does not include Alaska Native Corporations, which are owned by private individuals.