Trump Administration Streamlines FEMA Public Assistance to Indiana

News Release

Trump Administration Streamlines FEMA Public Assistance to Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS - Just over one month since President Trump approved federal disaster assistance for Hoosiers following historic storms and flooding, FEMA is delivering on its promise to accelerate funding, reduce barriers and improve the recovery process for Indiana communities.

Launch of SPEED PA Initiative

Further empowering state and local governments to take the lead on their recovery, FEMA today officially announced the launch of the Streamlined Process to Ensure Efficient Delivery (SPEED PA) initiative. This approach will support state and local governments that are eligible for FEMA's Public Assistance program by providing additional ways to submit information and quickly receive the funding they need to begin recovery work.

"This administration has made it clear that disaster recovery should be fast, efficient and state-led, and that's what we've done since day one of this operation," said Darrin Ricketts, federal coordinating officer for Indiana's recovery operation. "Under President Trump's leadership, FEMA remains committed to removing roadblocks, cutting red tape and eliminating bureaucratic process that slow down recovery."

To improve the recovery process, the SPEED PA initiative includes:

• Accepting cost estimates instead of actual project costs: This allows Public Assistance applicants to use FEMA-validated or other types of permissible estimates to be used to establish the cost of the project.
• Accelerating project worksheets: FEMA can advance eligible projects through formulation, review and obligation more efficiently by moving complete project development information to the front of the Public Assistance process.
• Advancing payment for eligible applicants: Once a project is approved and funds are available, recipients may use reimbursement, advance payments or working capital advances to move their recovery projects forward.

These enhanced processes mean that state and local governments in Indiana, as well as certain private nonprofits, can begin contracting recovery work sooner and communities can start to see improvements in their area earlier.

This week, FEMA's Director of Public Assistance Robert Pesapane met with local and state officials to visit disaster-damaged infrastructure and learn first-hand the ways FEMA can better support their rebuilding efforts. After flooding damaged the Jackson Township Fire Department in August, Director Pesapane and FEMA Public Assistance staff were able to complete a site inspection to move their FEMA recovery project forward. Director Pesapane then met with state officials to talk through ways FEMA can assist them in planning, contracting and executing their recovery projects with less of an administrative burden and simpler processes.

For more information about FEMA's operation in Indiana, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4933.

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FEMA's mission is helping people before, during and after disasters.