The Public Assistance (PA) program is supplementary federal financial assistance to local and state, special districts, certain private non-profits and federally-recognized Indian tribes from the impact of a disaster.
Individual Assistance (IA) can provide a range of programs and resources that assist individual and families to recover from disaster events. This assistance is available only when the President declares that a major disaster has occurred and U.S. Government agencies are to provide IA. Individual Assistance can include FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (IHP), housing and personal property assistance, child care, crisis counseling, unemployment assistance, legal assistance (usually for landlord-tenant matters), and assistance with other essential needs. It also includes disaster loans for physical damage and economic injury which are provided by the U.S. Small Business Administration.