Seeking FEMA Assistance to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Consistent with the President’s National Emergency Declarationfor the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on March 13, 2020, the FederalEmergency Management Agency (FEMA) is urging local officials to takeappropriate actions necessary to protect public health and safety pursuant topublic health guidance, conditions and capabilities.

Under emergency declaration, FEMA is authorized to reimburselocal governments for costs associated with “emergency protective measures” inresponse to the COVID-19 pandemic. These emergency protective measures aredefined in Category B of the Public Assistance Program of the Stafford Act. Asummary of eligibility expenses follows:

FEMA Public Assistance Program

In accordance with section 502 of the Robert T. StaffordDisaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5207 (the“Stafford Act”), eligible emergency protective measures taken to respond to theCOVID-19 emergency at the direction or guidance of public health officials maybe reimbursed under Category B of FEMA’s Public Assistance program. FEMA willnot duplicate assistance provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services(HHS), to include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), orother federal agencies.

State, territorial, tribal, and local government entitiesand certain private non-profit organizations are eligible to apply for PublicAssistance. FEMA assistance will be provided at a 75 percent federal costshare. This assistance will require execution of a FEMA-State/Tribal/TerritoryAgreement, as appropriate, and execution of an applicable emergency plan. Localgovernments and other eligible PA applicants will apply through theirrespective state, tribal or territorial jurisdictions.

What should local governments do?

1.      Immediately contact your State designated PublicAssistance (PA) Representative. If you don’t know who your State PARepresentative is, you can contact:

a.      Your State Emergency Management Agency (clickhere for a list ofState Emergency Management Agencies); or

b.      The FEMA Regional Officethat is responsible for coordinating FEMA assistance for your state. Click herefor contact information for your FEMA Region.

                                                              i.     Region I: CT, ME, MA,NH, RI, VT

                                                            ii.     Region II: NJ, NY, PuertoRico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

                                                          iii.     Region III: Delaware,Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia

                                                           iv.     Region IV:Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, SouthCarolina, and Tennessee

                                                            v.     Region V: Illinois,Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin

                                                           vi.     RegionVI: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas

                                                         vii.     Region VII: Iowa, Kansas,Missouri, and Nebraska

                                                       viii.     Region VIII: Colorado,Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming

                                                           ix.     RegionIX: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealthof the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and theFederated States of Micronesia

                                                            x.     Region X: Alaska, Idaho,Oregon, and Washington

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