FEMA Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-4728-DR-IL, June 29 - July 2, 2023 Severe Storms

As the FEMA Public Assistance (PA) Program Manager for our state, I want to provide you with critical information on the initial steps to take following this Federal Major Disaster Declaration.

  • There has been a FEMA Major Disaster declared for the following counties: Christian, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Hancock, Macon, McDonough, Monroe, Morgan, Moultrie, Pike, Sangamon, Scott, Vermillion, Warren and Washington.
  • Disaster Declaration date is September 15, 2023.
  • Additional counties may be added within 30 days of declaration date. They must meet the PA disaster threshold. County EMAs may contact the IEMA-OHS office for direction.
    • If your Agency or organization performed duties in response to the June 29 – July 2, 2023 storm system, you may need to collect data to submit disaster-related expenses for possible reimbursement.

 

This is an email to perform notification of the Major Disaster Declaration to the County EMAs and potentially-impacted parties. I’ll ask that you share this information with anyone who may have been impacted by the June 29 – July 2, 2023 storm system. Eligible organizations include all State, Local units of government and certain private non-profit organizations. Please share this information with your respective jurisdictions, stakeholders and potentially eligible private non-profit organizations. If in doubt, the organization should register and submit information to ensure eligibility and inclusion in this disaster. Actual damage-related information can be collected later.

 

The following steps are crucial for streamlining the recovery process and ensuring that eligible organizations receive necessary assistance.

 

Notify Local Units of Government; County EMAs should:

  • Coordinate with local government officials and authorities to inform them about the disaster declaration.
  • Advise them on the importance of documenting all disaster-related expenses and damages thoroughly.

 

Notify Anyone Not Initially Included in Damage Assessments; County EMAs should:

  • Understand that some organizations or entities may not have been included in the initial damage assessments.
  • Encourage local units of government and non-profits to reach out to us if they believe they are eligible for assistance but were not initially assessed.

 

Register Organizations in FEMA Grants Portal:

  • The first step is to ensure that all eligible organizations register in the FEMA Grants Portal (https://grantee.fema.gov).
    • You’ll need essential organization information.
      • Organization Name (official name)
      • EIN Number
      • Unique Entity Identification (UEI) number
      • DUNS Number
      • Primary/Secondary POCs info
      • Facility Address
      • County Affiliation
  • Encourage organizations to complete their profiles and provide accurate information, as this portal will be the primary platform for grant applications and tracking.

 

Submission of Request for Public Assistance (RPA):

  • Eligible organizations, including local governments and certain private non-profits, should promptly submit a Request for Public Assistance (RPA) through the FEMA Grants Portal .
  • The RPA is a critical step in initiating the formal assistance process.

 

Prepare for Applicant Briefings and Informational Meetings:

  • In the coming days, we will be scheduling Applicant Briefings and additional meetings that will allow for distribution of information, guidance and to answer questions.
    • Applicant Briefings will provide critical information for all interested, potentially eligible organizations. Information will be provided as well as the opportunity for additional assistance with a question & answer session.
  • When schedule is provided, please ensure that relevant stakeholders are prepared to participate in these meetings.

 

Compliance with Deadlines:

  • Stress the importance of meeting deadlines for document submission and adherence to FEMA regulations.
  • Timely submissions will expedite the approval and disbursement of funding.
    • 30 Days from Declaration Date - Sunday October 15th, 2023
      • Sunday, October 15th - REQUEST FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE Deadline (FEMA Grants Portal )
        • If you are unable to submit via FEMA Grants Portal, reach out and assistance will be provided.
      • Sunday, October 15th – Last day for the addition of Counties not included in original Major Disaster request
        • For a County to be considered, ANY and ALL eligible expenses should be collected and submitted to the county EMA coordinator ASAP. County EMA will consult with IEMA-OHS. FEMA will be formally advised and will need to perform a separate Preliminary Damage Assessment to determine eligibility.

 

Coordinate with State and Federal Partners:

  • Maintain open lines of communication with our state and federal partners.
  • Collaboration and coordination will be key to the success of our recovery efforts.

 

Please be aware that failure to complete the necessary steps may result in delays or denial in receiving federal assistance. We are here to support you through this process and are committed to helping all communities to fully recover from the impacts of this disaster.

 

If you have any immediate questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. We are here to help.

 

Thank you for your dedication to the safety and resilience of our communities.

 

V/r,

 

Luke Denny

State Public Assistance Group Supervisor

Division of Disaster Recovery

IEMA-Office of Homeland Security

luke.denny@illinois.gov

Office: 217-785-9926 / Cell: 217-836-8745