HANDBOOK FOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE
PRELIMINARY FEDERAL/STATE/LOCAL
DAMAGE ASSESSMENT
FEMA Photo by Gene Romano
Once the state has received the initial damage assessment, the state and FEMA will initiate a joint preliminary assessment in cooperation with the affected county government. The action is taken to verify the severity and magnitude of the damage in order to justify the need to pursue a request for federal assistance.
If a joint preliminary damage assessment is initiated, local jurisdictions should provide the appropriate transportation, maps and guides to the damage areas. The more expeditiously the data can be collected, the quicker a potential disaster declaration can be obtained.
