DULUTH, Minn. — State agencies, local governments and certain private nonprofits in Cass and Itasca counties two weeks remaining to file their official requests for federal public assistance to help recover from severe storms and flooding on June 14-21, 2012.

The deadline to file a Request for Public Assistance (RPA) is August 25, 2012.

Filing such a request with the State is the first step in the process of applying for federal reimbursements under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) Grant Program. Applicants must file RPAs within 30 days of a presidential disaster declaration. President Obama issued a major disaster declaration for public assistance on July 6. Cass and Itasca counties were designated on July 26.

PA grants are obligated to the State to reimburse applicants for expenses they incurred while taking emergency measures to protect lives and property such as debris removal, search and rescue operations and sandbagging. Expenses for repairs to flood-damaged facilities such as roads, bridges, utilities and other public infrastructure may also be covered.

Although the program is oriented to public entities, private nonprofit organizations may apply directly to FEMA via the RPA for uninsured costs of debris removal and emergency protective measures. Additionally, nonprofits may qualify for FEMA assistance to make infrastructure repairs if they provide critical services such as communications, power, water, emergency response or medical treatment.

For details about FEMA’s PA program, visit: www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit.

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