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News Release Archive

Joint Information Center · Joint Field Office · 4800 Cox Road · Glen Allen, VA 23060

Oct. 17, 2006
DR-1661-VA
NR - 07
News Desk: 804-270-2295

Just Three Days Left for Certain Nonprofit Organizations to File for Disaster Aid

GLEN ALLEN, Va. — Certain nonprofit organizations that provide a public service may be eligible for federal disaster assistance if their agency was damaged or suffered losses from Tropical Depression Ernesto.

The deadline for submitting an application for this assistance is Friday, October 20.

They may apply for aid under the Public Assistance disaster declaration of September 22, 2006. Nonprofit organizations in the independent city of Newport News, which received an add-on declaration on October 6, have until November 6 to file—the deadline is 30 days from the declaration date. Funding is made available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's and the Commonwealth of Virginia's PA program.

"Nonprofit organizations can get an application form and more information by calling the Virginia Department of Emergency Management at 804-270-4457," said Michael Cline, the state coordinating officer.

Through the PA program, grants are provided for the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged, publicly owned facilities and the facilities of certain private nonprofit organizations. The Federal share of assistance is not less than 75 percent of the eligible cost for emergency measures and permanent restoration. The grantee—usually the State—determines how the 25 percent non-federal share is split with sub grantees.

"We want to be sure that nonprofits know they may be eligible to receive a PA grant," said Gracia Szczech, FEMA's federal coordinating officer for recovery operations. "We encourage the organizations to call the Virginia Department of Emergency Management office and speak to a PA specialist."

To be considered for disaster aid, a nonprofit applicant must:

• Be based in a jurisdiction identified under the declaration as eligible for Public Assistance; they are the counties of Accomack, Caroline, Charles City, Dinwiddie, Essex, Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northampton, Northumberland, Richmond, Surry, Sussex, Westmoreland, York and the independent cities of Newport News (declared on October 6, 2006), Poquoson and Richmond;
• Have provided services to the general public on a nonsectarian basis;
• Have a letter from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service granting tax exemption under Section 501(c), (d) or (e) of the Internal Revenue Code;
• Have a state certification that the organization is a nonprofit organization under state law; and
• Have a tax-exempt number.

Some examples of private nonprofit organizations are educational facilities, medical, rehabilitation and custodial care facilities, homeless shelters, food banks, senior citizen centers and sheltered workshops.

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities; works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

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