U.S. flag
        An official website of the United States government
          Here’s how you know
        Here’s how you know
        world globe
        Languages
      EnglishEspañolFrançaisKreyòlTiếng Việt简体中文한국어 **Official websites use .gov** A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS** A **lock** (
A locked padlock
) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
              .
  Apply for Assistance


                Toggle Menu

    close
            Disasters & Assistance
                  
                                                      Current DisastersCalifornia Severe StormsHermit's Peak/Calf Canyon FireMaine Severe StormsMichigan Severe StormsRhode Island Severe Storms (December 2023)Rhode Island Severe Storms (January 2024)Washington WildfiresWildfire ActionsWrangell Cooperative Association Severe StormAll Disaster Declarations
Assistance After a DisasterGovernments and Private Non-ProfitsIndividuals and Families
Tools to RecoverCommon RumorsDisaster Multimedia ToolkitDisaster-Related FAQFEMA in Your LanguageSave Your Family TreasuresVolunteer & Donate
General Disaster InformationSearch Your LocationHow a Disaster Gets DeclaredDisaster AuthoritiesHistoric DisastersGrants
                  
                                                      FEMA GrantsPreparedness GrantsHazard Mitigation Assistance GrantsResilience GrantsContinuing Training Grants ProgramEmergency Food and Shelter ProgramShelter and Services Program
Policy & GuidanceProcurement & Contracting"Buy America" PreferenceBipartisan Infrastructure LawLow-Carbon Goals2 CFR Policy Updates
ToolsAuthorized Equipment ListBenefit-Cost AnalysisEnvironmental & Historic Preservation GuidanceFEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO)Grants Management Technical AssistanceNon-Disaster Grants Management SystemFloods & Maps
                  
                                                      Flood InsuranceFind an Insurance FormWork with National Flood InsuranceNFIP’s Pricing ApproachInsurance Outreach PublicationsRules and LegislationFlood Insurance Advocate
Floodplain ManagementManage Floodplain RiskGet Financial HelpCommunity Assistance Program for StatesCommunity Rating SystemFloodplains & Wildlife ConservationIntergovernmental Collaboration
Flood MapsFlood Data Viewers & Geospatial DataChange Your Flood Zone DesignationRisk MAPProducts and ToolsGuidance & ReportsCooperating Technical Partners
Know Your RiskHomeowners, Renters or Business OwnersCommunity OfficialsEngineers, Surveyors or ArchitectsReal Estate, Lending or Insurance ProfessionalsState, Local, Tribal or Territorial GovernmentsEmergency Management
                  
                                                      National PreparednessTraining & EducationNational Incident Management System (NIMS)National Planning FrameworksNational Preparedness GoalContinuity Resource ToolkitEquityExercises
Risk ManagementHazard Mitigation PlanningClimate ResilienceBuilding ScienceEarthquake RiskDam SafetyHurricane, Wind & Water Surge HazardsHazardous Response Capabilities
Tools for PractitionersIntegrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS)Planning GuidesCommunity LifelinesEnvironmental Planning & Historic PreservationRecovery ResourcesCase Study LibraryPrepTalks
Individuals & CommunitiesPreparedness Activities, Research & WebinarsFaith-Based & Volunteer Partnership ResourcesYouth & Emergency PlanningCommunity Emergency Response Team (CERT)Activities to Reduce Risk for Your HomeAbout
                  
                                                      About UsHow FEMA WorksStrategic PlanOffices & LeadershipRegions, States & TerritoriesTribal AffairsHow to Pay FEMAHistory of FEMAContact Us
NewsroomBlogEventsFact SheetsFEMA LiveMobile ProductsNewslettersPress ReleasesPodcastSocial Media
Reports & DataAnnual ReportsData VisualizationsDisaster Relief Fund ReportsFEMA Guidance DocumentsGlossaryOpenFEMAResilience Analysis & Planning Tool
FEMA in ActionWe Are FEMADisaster ResilienceTwenty Years Later: 9/11Work With Us
                  
                                                      CareersBenefitsCareer PathsHow to ApplyRecruitment EventsFEMA Employee Resources
Business and OrganizationsDoing Business with FEMANational Business Emergency Operations Center
PartnershipsCommunity Disaster Resilience ZonesEmergency Manager ExchangeFederal Agency Mission AssignmentsResilient Nation Partnership NetworkApply for Assistance  Archived Content. This page contains information that may not reflect current policy or programs. Learn more
 About
              
              
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

              Newsroom
                          Newsroom

                      Press Releases
                  
                                        
                    
          
                    
                            
                                        
                    
          
                    
                            
                                                    Blog
                                                Events
                                                Fact Sheets
                                                FEMA Live
                                                Mobile Products
                                                Newsletters
                                                                      Podcast
                                                Social Media
                              
                                                            About Us
                                                                                  Reports & Data
                                                        FEMA in Action
          COVID-19 Emergency Declaration
world globeEnglish
    Español
    Français
    Kreyòl
    Italiano
    日本語
    한국어
    Português, Brasil
    Русский
    Tagalog
    Tiếng Việt
    简体中文
Release Date
    Release NumberMarch 14, 2020
        HQ-20-017-FactSheet
Release Date:
              March 14, 2020

            On March 13, 2020, the President declared the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant an emergency declaration for all states, tribes, territories, and the District of Columbia pursuant to section 501 (b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5207 (the “Stafford Act”).  State, Territorial, Tribal, local government entities and certain private non-profit (PNP) organizations are eligible to apply for Public Assistance.

In accordance with section 502 of the Stafford Act, eligible emergency protective measures taken to respond to the COVID-19 emergency at the direction or guidance of public health officials’ may be reimbursed under Category B of the agency’s Public Assistance program. FEMA will not duplicate assistance provided by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or other federal agencies.  This includes necessary emergency protective measures for activities taken in response to the COVID-19 incident.  FEMA assistance will be provided at the 75 percent Federal cost share.

This declaration increases federal support to HHS in its role as the lead federal agency for the federal government’s response to COVID-19. The emergency declaration does not impact measures authorized under other Federal statutes.

FEMA assistance will require execution of a FEMA-State/Tribal/Territory Agreement, as appropriate, and execution of an applicable emergency plan.  States, Tribal and Territorial governments do not need to request separate emergency declarations to receive FEMA assistance under this nationwide declaration.

FEMA encourages officials to take appropriate actions that are necessary to protect public health and safety pursuant to public health guidance.

# # #

*FEMA’s mission is to help people before, during and after disasters.**Follow**FEMA online**, on Twitter**@FEMA**or**@FEMAEspanol**, on FEMA’s**Facebook page**or**Espanol page**and at FEMA’s**YouTube**account. Also, follow Administrator Pete Gaynor’s activities**@FEMA_Pete**.**The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.*
      Download Press Release PDF
Accessible TXT
Related Links:
  President Donald J. Trump Directs FEMA Support Under Emergency Declaration for ...Tags:
  Headquarters
  Region 1
  Region 2
  Region 3
  Region 4
  Region 5
  Region 6
  Region 7
  Region 8
  Region 9
  Region 10

  Coronavirus
  Pandemic
Last updated March 18, 2021

            Return to top Disasters & Assistance
      
    
                  Grants
      
    
                  Floods & Maps
      
    
                  Emergency Management
      
    
                  About
      
    
                  Work With Us

Facebook

          Instagram


          Twitter

          YouTube

          LinkedIn

          Newsletter

        Contact FEMA

DHS logo
              FEMA.govAn official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
          Accessibility
                Accountability
                Careers
                Civil Rights
                Contact Us
                FOIA
                Glossary
                No FEAR Act
                Plug-Ins
                Privacy
                Report Disaster Fraud
                Website Information
                DHS.gov
                USA.gov
                Inspector General