Activities that have a direct impact on saving lives and protecting public health and safety qualify as Emergency Protective Measures that are potentially eligible for reimbursement under the Public Assistance Grant Program.

Such activities include:

• Firefighting
• Transporting and pre-positioning equipment and other resources for response
• Flood fighting
• Emergency Operations Center-related costs
• Medical care and transport
• Evacuation and sheltering, including that provided by another State, Territorial, or Tribal government
• Search and rescue to locate survivors, household pets, and service animals requiring assistance
• Security, such as barricades, fencing, or law enforcement
• Use or lease of temporary equipment such as generators and pumps for facilities that provide essential community services
• Mass mortuary services

Additional details on activities that qualify as saving lives and protecting public health are included in the Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide, 2.VI.B.

A Category 4 hurricane caused extreme rainfall, wind, and a surface flooding event in the City of Bristol Cove. The incident period was August 25 through September 1, 2018. 55 inches of rain caused up to 2 feet of standing water throughout the city.

Several emergency activities took place. The City Hall was used as a one night evacuation staging center, park superintendent uniforms were provided to evacuees, roadway debris clearance for emergency vehicle access occurred, 24 cubic yards of sand and 2,400 bags were used for residential sandbagging, and storm water drain preventative clearance was conducted.

Additionally, cell service providers issued a 30-day data plan to maintain emergency communications. The city also conducted spraying for mosquitos for citywide disease prevention caused by excessive standing water.

Activities directly related to protecting improved property qualify as Emergency Protective Measures and are potentially eligible for reimbursement through the Public Assistance Grant Program.

Activities related to protecting improved property include but are not limited to:

• Constructing emergency berms or temporary levees to provide protection from floodwaters or landslides
• Emergency repairs necessary to prevent further damage, such as covering a damaged roof to prevent infiltration of rainwater
• Buttressing, shoring, or bracing facilities to stabilize them or prevent collapse
• Temporary slope stabilization
• Mold remediation
• Removal and storage of contents from eligible facilities for the purpose of minimizing additional damage

Additional details on activities that qualify as protecting improved property are included in the Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide, 2.VI.B.

An extreme storm system poured rain on Wamsay County, New Stunton, causing significant flooding and leading the President to declare a major disaster. The incident period occurred from August 23 to September 15. Many state roads were flooded and under water.

As a result, the New Stunton Department of Transportation utilized the product known as Aqua Dams to open the flooded roads as an Emergency Protective Measure, so that emergency vehicles and motorists could pass safely on flooded roads. This product uses water filled tubes as a cofferdam to create a barrier that helps to control water and prevent flooding in specific areas.

The New Stunton Department of Transportation purchased 7 miles of Aqua Dams to prevent flooding to these State roads and requested Federal reimbursement for the total cost of the contract in the amount of $1,037,410.00, which included the 7 miles of Aqua Dams and associated setup expenses.

During the incident period of August 23 through September 15, Hurricane Hannah created an immediate threat to local communities.

Under a mutual aid agreement, the Woodbury Volunteer Fire Department provided fire-fighting actions and assistance to emergency management services and police responders for 257 incident calls, including fires, downed power lines, and gas leak and high-water rescues at locations within the declared counties.

In limited circumstances, Emergency Protective Measures that Applicants conduct on private property are potentially deemed eligible under the Public Assistance Grant Program if:

• The immediate threat is widespread, affecting numerous homes and businesses in a community such that it is a threat to the health and safety of the general public in that community
• The Applicant has legal authority to perform the work
• The Applicant obtained rights-of-entry and agreements to indemnify and hold harmless the Federal Government

Examples of activities include:

• Demolition of unsafe private structures that endanger the public
• Pumping of flooded basements when it is widespread
• Pumping of septic tanks or decontamination of wells causing a pollution threat
• Stabilizing a slope

Additional details on Emergency Protective Measures performed on private property are included in the Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide, 2.VI.B.

A wastewater treatment plant lost all power to the sewer lift stations. The City had to run generators through the treatment plant due to loss of power to keep the pumps functioning and to keep the sewers from backing up into homes.

Activities related to potentially eligible increased operating costs include:

• Generators at a hospital or police station
• Water testing and treatment supplies in the immediate aftermath of the incident to counter a specific threat
• Fuel for increased use of pumping stations
• Emergency Operation Center facility costs

Activities related to potentially ineligible increased operating costs include:

• Patient care
• Administrative activities
• Provision of food (food may be reimbursable to emergency government workers such as Emergency Operations Center staff when they are unable to leave their position during an event and food is not readily available)
• Obtaining electrical power from an alternative source
• Obtaining water from an alternative source
• School make-up days, including contracted costs for bus service for make-up days
• Provision of fuel for school bus service

Additional details on Emergency Protective Measures performed on private property are included in the Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide, 2.VI.B.

During the incident period of August 15, 2017 through September 23, 2017, storm surge, heavy rain, and high winds caused dangerous conditions and damages at Green Grove Elementary, Green Grove Junior High, Chaparral Elementary and Chaparral Middle Schools, owned by Green Grove-Chaparral Consolidated Independent School District (Applicant).

The Applicant took Emergency Protective Measures to stabilize their facilities. The Applicant operated desiccant dryers, heaters, and equipment to remediate and stabilize the four impacted schools.

The Applicant is requesting reimbursement for electric bills incurred during the stabilization timeframe totaling $265,000 for the four schools.

Because the four schools were not in normal use at the time the Emergency Protective Measures were taken, the Applicant asserts that the electricity used was for the stabilization of the schools. FEMA requested documentation of the electric bills, which the Applicant was unable to provide.