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COVID-19 FEMA Public Assistance

 4499DR-OR Disaster Declaration
President Donald J. Trump granted on March 28 a Major Disaster Declaration (4499DR-OR) for the State of Oregon, triggering the release of Federal funds to help communities recover from COVID-19. The incident period that the declaration covers initiated on January 20, 2020, and is continuing, in all 36 Oregon counties.

The declaration allows for FEMA's Public Assistance program to be activated. FEMA Public Assistance (PA) is available to state and eligible local, tribal governments and certain private nonprofit organizations in the State of Oregon. The Public Assistance Program provides Federal financial assistance at a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures taken to respond to the COVID-19 emergency at the direction or guidance of state, local, tribal and territorial public health officials to manage, control and reduce the immediate threats to public health and safety.

The Federal share of assistance is not less than 75% of the eligible cost for emergency measures taken to respond to the COVID-19 emergency at the direction of guidance of state, local, tribal and territorial public health officials.

For COVID-19, Oregon Office of Emergency Management and FEMA will manage the Public Assistance program process to provide supplemental Federal disaster grant assistance for Emergency Protective Measures activities that eliminate or lessen threats to lives, public health or safety.

For more information, contact:

Julie Slevin, State Public Assistance Officer
julie.slevin@state.or.us, 503-378-2235

Dan Gwin, Deputy State Public Assistance Officer

dan.gwin@state.or.us, 503-378-3254

Who is Eligible to Apply for FEMA Public Assistance?

To initiate the process the State is offering recipient virtual Applicant Briefings. This high-level information session offers an overview of FEMA Public Assistance and Question & Answer period. All applicants are encouraged to participate.
Eligible applicants include state, local governments, tribal governments, special districts, state agencies and certain private nonprofits (PNP)*.
*PNPs are those entities that provide a governmental type service, and have a 501(c), (d) or (e) tax exception status (see FEMA Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide).

Information required by FEMA for PNPs eligibility:
  • DUNS Number
  • Organizational Charter/By-Laws
  • Tax Exempt Letter, 501(c), (d), or (e) IRS designation
  • Articles of Incorporation
  • PNP Questionnaire
  • Copy of the Deed or Lease Agreement

Applying for FEMA Public Assistance

Applicants must complete a Request for Public Assistance (RPA) to be considered for FEMA Public Assistance.

All applicants must submit their DUNS number. If applicants do not know their DUNS number, your agency/organizations finance department can provide. If applicants do not have a DUNS number, visit the Dun & Bradstreet website to create one.

  • State, local and territorial applicants can submit to the state directly or create their own accounts and submit RPAs directly through FEMA's Grants Portal without working through the State. 
  • PNPs and tribes must submit their Request for Public Assistance (RPA) directly to Oregon's Office of Emergency Management: Julie Slevin julie.slevin@state.or.us and Dan Gwin dan.gwin@state.or.us, or fax to OEM at 503-373-7833.

Links to Forms

Application Submission

  • If you agency/organization has an existing FEMA Grants Portal profile, you may submit your RPA directly through the system-generated email.
  • If your agency/organization created an account and self-registered directly in FEMA Grants Portal, you will receive a user name and temporary password from Grants Portal.
  • If your agency/organization submitted a RPA to the State, the State will set up an account for your organization in the FEMA Grants Portal using the information provided on the RPA.
    • Upon FEMA/State approval of RPA eligibility, the applicant's primary contact/applicant authorized agent listed on the RPA will receive an email invitation from Grants Portal (check spam/junk folder) with user name and temporary password.
If you did not receive an email from Grants Portal with username and temporary password, contact the FEMA Grants Portal Hotline at 1-866-337-8448 or FEMA-Recovery-PA-Grants@fema.dhs.gov

Application support and tutorials are available on You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIJp91Ds2IaVlR1t8uXcEKg

FEMA Grants Portal Fact Sheets and Process

Delivery Process

Due to the significant impacts of COVID-19 and Oregon Governor Kate Brown's Executive Order to maintain physical distancing, FEMA and the State will work virtually with applicants to develop their project worksheets. Applicants should be prepared to drive their own recovery through Grants Portal and adjust to the evolving delivery of the program. 

For further information on FEMA Public Assistance Policy, Guidance and Factsheets, visit https://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-policy-and-guidance.

DR4499OR COVID-19 Disaster-Specific Guidance and Fact Sheets

FEMA Public Assistance Resources

Other Federal Resources