LOC News
FEMA Public Assistance for Debris Removal
This week, at the governor’s request, the Oregon Office of Emergency Management (OEM) began the process with FEMA to add Federal Public Assistance (PA) grant funds for all cities dealing with the current wildfire crisis. Costs to remove incident-related debris (including, but not limited to, vegetative debris, components of structures, sand, mud, silt, gravel, rocks, boulders, vehicles, and vessels) from improved public property and public rights-of-way (ROWs), including federal-aid roads, are reimbursable.
For private property debris removal (PPDR) eligibility, the city must demonstrate (see FEMA PA Private Property Debris Removal):
- Legal Authority
- Certifies that is has legal authority and responsibility to remove debris from private property,
- Cites all applicable sources of authority (law, ordinance, code, contract, etc.) and
- Agrees to indemnify the United States of any claim arising from debris removal. - Public Interest
Applicant must demonstrate the PPDR was in public interest (public health authority or other public entity that has legal authority to make a determination that disaster-generated debris on private property constitutes an immediate threat to life, public health or safety, or to the economic recovery of the community at large).
If a city chooses to assist with PPDR, please contact your city attorney for hold harmless agreements. Please remember that applicants may not duplicate benefits with insurance and must comply with environmental, historic preservation, and floodplain management laws as part of the eligibility conditions. As with all FEMA financial aid, documentation of your costs is imperative. Cities need to document the following information to support debris removal claims:
- Quantity and type of debris
- Hauled to a temporary staging site
- Reduced, including reduction method (e.g., chipped, burned)
- Hauled to a final disposal site
- Recycled
- Pick-up locations
- Disposal locations (temporary staging, recycling, and final disposal)
- Owned (“Force Account”) equipment
- Type of equipment and attachments used
- Year, make, model, size/capacity
- Days and hours used
- Operator name
- Contracted equipment
- Certifications of truck size/capacity
- Labor
- Name
- Days and hours worked
- Work performed
Additional Resources:
- Debris Removal Tips Fact Sheet
- Private Property Debris Removal Fact Sheet
- After the Fire: How to Safely Manage Ash and Debris from Burned Buildings
- Sample Right of Entry Permit (1)
- Sample Right of Entry Permit (2)
If you have any questions, please contact:
Julie Slevin
State Public Assistance Officer
Oregon Office of Emergency Management
Julie.slevin@state.or.us
Daniel Gwin
Deputy State Public Assistance Officer
Oregon Military Department, Office of Emergency Management
dan.gwin@state.or.us
Last Updated 9/18/20