How does a government go from disaster, to emergency response, to long-term rebuild to normalcy, while seeking FEMA reimbursements along the way?

A detailed briefing on the process appears on the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management's Disaster Public Assistance site, outlining the different classifications a town would use for projects after a disaster such as Hurricane Sandy.

The briefing aims to break down the complicated process and provide an overview. The PowerPoint presentation answers questions such as: Which local officers would be coordinating the reimbursement effort depends on the project -- whether an emergency rescue cost, clearing right-of-ways, or repairing infrastructure, for example.

The 57-page document delves into matters of insurance, step-by-step timelines, and explanations of jargon associated with the process.

The briefing, attached to this article, was prepared specifically in response to Hurricane Sandy.