FEMA Public Assistance Training

Description

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Cooperative CEOs/GMs, CFOs, Controllers, Accounting Leaders, Operations Managers, and Line Superintendents

This practical training program equips Wisconsin electric cooperative leaders with the knowledge and tools needed to prepare for, respond to, and recover from federally declared disasters. Designed for participants with little or no prior FEMA Public Assistance experience, the course focuses on executive decision-making, financial implications, documentation requirements, contracting practices, and organizational readiness rather than administrative grant processing.

Participants will learn how FEMA Public Assistance works, what actions must be taken immediately following an event to protect funding eligibility, and how to establish the systems, records, and procurement practices necessary for successful reimbursement. Real-world cooperative case studies provide lessons learned from actual disaster recoveries and common compliance pitfalls.

Upon completion, participants will be able to:

• Understand FEMA Public Assistance regulations, eligibility requirements, and funding categories.
• Distinguish between Public Assistance and hazard mitigation funding.
• Prepare their cooperative’s response team, records, contracts, and documentation systems before a disaster occurs.
• Implement effective damage assessment and documentation practices from the first hours of an event.
• Apply procurement and contracting requirements that support reimbursement eligibility.
• Understand Wisconsin’s disaster assistance landscape and its relationship to federal programs.
• Evaluate organizational disaster readiness and identify improvement opportunities