Applicants often provide meals for emergency workers. Provision of meals, including beverages and meal supplies, for employees and volunteers engaged in eligible Emergency Work, including those at emergency operations centers, is eligible provided the individuals are not receiving per diem and one of the following circumstances apply:

• Meals are required based on a labor policy or written agreement
  
• Conditions constitute a level of severity that requires employees to work abnormal, extended work hours without a reasonable amount of time to provide for their own meals; or
  
• Food or water is not reasonably available for employees to purchase

FEMA only reimburses the cost of meals that are brought to the work location and purchased in a cost-effective and reasonable manner, such as bulk meals. FEMA does not reimburse costs related to group outings at restaurants or individual meals.