We are one month into the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season and already have our first named storm, with significant impacts across some portions of the Gulf states. We have seen a governor declare emergency in Texas and a president declare emergency in Florida. On Monday, July 1, Hurricane Beryl became the Atlantic Basin's earliest Category 5 hurricane on record, as it passed over the Windward Islands and continued to track toward the Yucatan Peninsula (and beyond).

Recovery from these events can be challenging, especially when there are concurrent events. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is a critical partner in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from these events for eligible FEMA Program applicants, but its programs can be complex. It is critical that emergency work is done as quickly as possible; however, applicants may be taking considerable risks if they make program errors or move forward too quickly without following the proper steps. This alert shares some tips to help support compliance with FEMA's primary post-event funding mechanism, the Public Assistance Program.