Tribal governments that elect to seek Public Assistance can choose to request assistance either as an Applicant or a Recipient in one of three ways.

1. Applicant/Subrecipient under a state declaration
2. Recipient under a state declaration
3. Recipient with a direct declaration (requires the Tribe to request a major disaster or emergency declaration)

Tribal governments make this decision on a disaster-by-disaster basis.

As an Applicant, the Tribal government will coordinate with the State to apply for assistance and receive reimbursement. As a Recipient, a Tribal government will work directly with FEMA, and will be required to sign a FEMA-Tribe Agreement and be subject to the responsibilities of a Recipient.

There are two ways to apply for Public Assistance as a Recipient, and one way to apply as an Applicant.