ANNISTON -Nonprofit organizations that experienced damage or losses from the tornadoes and storms of March 19-20 in Calhoun, Cullman, Etowah and St. Clair counties may apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance to help them get back to the business of helping others.

The FEMA Public Assistance program may reimburse eligible expenses incurred before, during and after the March 19-20 disaster event on a cost-share basis. The Federal cost-share for all categories of Public Assistance (PA) is 75 percent of total eligible costs.

Only certain nonprofit organizations (PNPs) are eligible. If they provide critical services, such as education, utility, emergency or medical, they can apply directly to FEMA. Those that provide non-critical, essential services to the community must first apply for a low-interest loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). FEMA may pay for all eligible emergency work and the permanent work not covered by an SBA disaster loan.

Essential service providers include:

•          Child care centers;

•          Libraries, museums and zoos;

•          Community centers;

•          Disability advocacy and service providers;

•          Homeless shelters and rehabilitation facilities;

•          Social and human services organizations for children, youth and adults;

•          Senior citizen centers; and

•          Houses of worship.

For more information about eligible essential and critical service providers, reference FEMA’s Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide on www.fema.gov.

A nonprofit that can prove tax-exempt status from the IRS or the state begins the process by submitting a Request for Public Assistance (RPA) to the State of Alabama. Contact Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) Public Assistance at 205-280-2316 with any questions on RPA submission.

Your RPA Form must be completed and submitted to be considered for disaster recovery assistance funding. Once completed, email the form to pa@ema.alabama.gov.  The deadline to complete the RPA is May 25.