FEMA Financial Support
New Policies & Guidance
Planning During a Pandemic
White House National Strategy and Priorities
Pro Association Resources
Tribal Governments
Defense Production Act
National Guard Activation
Two years after the COVID-19 national emergency declaration on March 13, 2020, FEMA continues working with state, tribal and territorial authorities to help bring this pandemic to an end. We rose to the unprecedented challenge by coordinating with state, local, tribal and territorial governments, federal agencies, voluntary organizations and private sector partners.
COVID-19 Pandemic Operational Guidance All-Hazards
This document is aimed at helping emergency managers plan for disaster response and recovery, while adhering to public health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Read the Guide
Spanish Guide
Financial Support
State, local, tribal, and territorial government entities and certain private non-profit organizations can apply for Public Assistance (PA) reimbursements for emergency protective measures taken during the pandemic.
For-profit private organizations are not eligible to receive grant assistance. However, governments can enter into formal agreements or contracts with private organizations, including private for-profit and non-profit organizations, to conduct the work. In such cases, the eligible applicant is still the government entity.
- Review the simplified steps to apply for Public Assistance (PA) grants and apply online.
- Review new policies and guidance on relief funding available through Public Assistance.
- Find information about programs from other federal departments and agencies that support COVID-19 pandemic recovery in our COVID-19 Resource Summary report.
- Get help navigating some of the challenges and resources available to address the COVID-19 pandemic with our resource roadmaps.
In the Process of Applying for a FEMA Grant?
Review COVID-19 supplemental funding opportunities for Fiscal Year 2020:
Get the latest information on funding opportunities and answers to frequently asked questions.
Already Have a FEMA Grant?
Learn about additional flexibilities (exceptions) to provide administrative relief to financial assistance recipients affected by the loss of operational capacity and increased costs due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Get help implementing good financial management for COVID-19 and other incident response and recovery with our new Disaster Financial Management Guide and accompanying Fact Sheet.
White House National Strategy and Priorities
FEMA, HHS and federal partners are supporting the White House Priorities with resources and programs to combat COVID-19.
The White House National Strategy outlines a new COVID-19 Response Office responsible for coordinating the pandemic response across all federal departments and agencies.
Vaccination Planning
Some work and costs involved with the administration and distribution of the vaccine may be eligible for reimbursement through FEMA’s Public Assistance program. These costs may include:
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) necessary to handle the vaccine.
- Equipment to store and transport the vaccine.
- Expenses for additional medical staff needed to administer the vaccine.
Costs covered by another source of federal funding or insurance are not eligible for reimbursement.
For more information on FEMA’s Public Assistance Program for vaccines, read our Vaccination Planning FAQ.
New Policies and Guidance
Review a list of COVID-19 Public Assistance guidance documents, including those highlighted in this section.
Learn more on how FEMA is funding Community Engagement for COVID-19 Vaccinations.
Read the guidance on COVID-19 safe opening and operation work that may be reimbursed under the Public Assistance program.
Read the statement on how FEMA will retroactively fund 100% of eligible costs until Sept. 30, 2021. On Mar. 1, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell announced that FEMA would continue the 100% cost share through Jul. 1, 2022.
Learn how the federal government is coordinating support for COVID-19 vaccination, sources of federal funding and answers to other frequently asked questions about vaccination planning.
Read the interim policy that provides a framework, details, and requirements for determining eligibility of work and costs under the Public Assistance program.
Read the guidance on eligible emergency protective measures that may be reimbursed under the Public Assistance program.
Review the types of emergency medical care eligible for public assistance reimbursements.
Understand the rules for using FEMA funds to contract emergency response services and exceptions that apply under exigent or emergency circumstances.
Learn about the temporary extension to non-congregate sheltering and assistance for evacuation & sheltering under an emergency declaration during COVID-19.
Read the policy on purchasing and distributing food as an emergency protective measure during COVID-19 and review new guidance from FEMA and HHS on meeting nutritional needs for at-risk individuals.
Planning During a Pandemic
Use these guides, tools and templates to develop plans to respond to all hazards during COVID-19.
Visit our Best Practices page for more information on how communities across the country have responded to the pandemic.
Healthcare Facility Expansion Assistance Playbook
Learn how to request federal support for healthcare facilities that need increased patient capacity, supplies and other support systems to treat COVID-19 patients.
Pandemic Operational Guidance for the 2021 Hurricane Season
Prepare response and recovery actions for all hazards during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Download the Guide
Reconstituting Operations
Get help deciding when and how to resume operations while protecting the well-being and safety of your employees and communities.
Fact Sheet
Exercise Starter Kit
Preparedness in a Pandemic
Conduct your own virtual planning workshop, exercise or tabletop to discuss your preparedness, response and recovery capabilities during a pandemic.
Exercise Starter Kit
Mass Care/Emergency Assistance Pandemic Planning
Guidance for developing mass care and emergency assistance plans associated with a pandemic.
Download the Guide
Personal Assistance Services Addendum
Provides guidance and promising practices to assist state, local, tribal and territorial partners, and shelter planners and operators, in anticipating and attending to the needs of people with disabilities.
Local Government Solutions Guides for COVID-19 and Beyond
These Local Government Solutions Guides for COVID-19 and Beyond provide local officials with solutions, resources and case studies to effectively respond to disaster recovery challenges.
Grants Management Capacity
Adaptive Design
Alternative Public Service Solutions
Professional Association Resources
Find COVID-19 specific resource pages with organizations that support state and local governments:
- Council of State Governments
- Government Finance Officers Association
- International City County Management Association
- International Public Management Association for Human Resources
- National Association of Counties
- National Conference of State Legislatures
- National Emergency Management Association
- National Governors Association
- National League of Cities
- Native American Finance Officers Association
- Pacific Disaster Center
- US Conference of Mayors
Tribal Governments
Federally recognized tribal governments have several options for COVID-19 related FEMA assistance.
- Public assistance may be requested under the nationwide emergency declaration or through a major disaster declaration.
- Crisis counseling is available to states that meet certain criteria. Tribal members that live inside those states will have access.
Each of the ten FEMA regions has Regional Tribal Liaisons to coordinate and connect tribes with FEMA leadership and program subject matter experts for information, technical assistance and resources.
Learn More
Defense Production Act
The Defense Production Act (DPA) gives the President the authority to work with the private sector to prioritize federal government contracts and to allocate materials to aid the national defense, including emergency response and preparedness activities.
President Trump issued an Executive Order on March 18 and a memorandum on April 3 outlining use of the Defense Production Act in response to COVID-19. Since then, the Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) has rated contracts under the DPA to multiple companies for ventilators and FEMA has also issued a DPA enabled production order to 3M for 10 million N95 respirators.
Learn More
National Guard Activation Under Title 32
Federal funding for the National Guard to support the response to COVID-19 has been extended under Title 32 to April 1, 2022.
Under Title 32 status, the National Guard remains under the command and control of their respective governors but is funded by the Department of Defense (DoD). FEMA has mission assigned DoD to support state and territorial efforts in response to the pandemic.
National Guard troops have helped distribute food and PPE, supported contact tracing and testing, and their medical teams have supported direct patient care and are assisting with vaccine administration. This continued assistance keeps states from incurring substantial state active duty personnel costs for extended timeframes.
