President Trump has approved Mississippi’s request for a ‘Presidential Major Disaster Declaration’ as the COVID-19 outbreak continues.
The request, which covers all Mississippi Counties, was made by Governor Tate Reeves last week and was approved on Sunday.
“I’m truly grateful for President Trump approving Mississippi’s request to support our people and ease the burden of COVID-19. These resources will reinforce our ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of the virus and help us emerge stronger than ever. Our continued partnership and collaboration with the Trump Administration will be critical as we deploy every resource available to protect the health and well-being of all Mississippians,” said Governor Reeves.
As a result of the declaration, public assistance is now available to State, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, for all areas across Mississippi impacted by COVID-19 beginning on January 20, 2020.
According to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, ‘Individual Assistance’ is still under review by FEMA.
FEMA provides the following guidance on the types of emergency protective measures that may be eligible under FEMA’s Public Assistance Program in accordance with the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration in order to ensure that resource constraints do not inhibit efforts to respond to this unprecedented disaster.
FEMA GUIDANCE:
Eligible Assistance
Under the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration described above, FEMA may provide assistance for emergency protective measures including, but not limited to, the following, if not funded by the HHS/CDC or other federal agency. While some activities listed may be eligible for funding through HHS/CDC, final reimbursement determinations will be coordinated by HHS and FEMA. FEMA will not duplicate any assistance provided by HHS/CDC):
- Management, control and reduction of immediate threats to public health and safety:
- Emergency Operation Center costs
- Learn more at fema.gov/public-assistance-policy-and-guidance March 19, 2020 | 2 of 3
- Training specific to the declared event
- Disinfection of eligible public facilities
- Technical assistance to state, tribal, territorial or local governments on emergency management and control of immediate threats to public health and safety
- Emergency Operation Center costs
- Emergency medical care:
- Non‐deferrable medical treatment of infected persons in a shelter or temporary medical facility
- Related medical facility services and supplies
- Temporary medical facilities and/or enhanced medical/hospital capacity (for treatment when existing facilities are reasonably forecasted to become overloaded in the near term and cannot accommodate the patient load or to quarantine potentially infected persons)
- Use of specialized medical equipment
- Medical waste disposal
- Emergency medical transport
- Medical sheltering (e.g. when existing facilities are reasonably forecasted to become overloaded in the near future and cannot accommodate needs)
- All sheltering must be conducted in accordance with standards and/or guidance approved by HHS/CDC and must be implemented in a manner that incorporates social distancing measures
- Non‐congregate medical sheltering is subject to prior approval by FEMA and is limited to that which is reasonable and necessary to address the public health needs of the event, is pursuant to the direction of appropriate public health officials and does not extend beyond the duration of the Public Health Emergency
- Household pet sheltering and containment actions related to household pets in accordance with CDC guidelines
- Purchase and distribution of food, water, ice, medicine, and other consumable supplies, to include personal protective equipment and hazardous material suits
- Movement of supplies and persons
- Security and law enforcement
- Communications of general health and safety information to the public
- Search and rescue to locate and recover members of the population requiring assistance
- Reimbursement for state, tribe, territory and/or local government force account overtime costs
