March 29, 2020
Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs Division

Advisory

Federal Partners Bring Additional Resources to US for COVID-19 Response

“We are marshalling the full power of the American Nation – economic, scientific, medical, and military – to vanquish the virus.” – President Trump

The federal government continues taking aggressive and proactive steps to address the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The health and safety of the American people is our top priority. Under the direction of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, FEMA, HHS and our federal partners are working with state, local, tribal and territorial governments to execute a whole of government response to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and protect the public.

The American people play a key role in the nation’s 15 Days to Slow the Spread campaign to help slow the virus’ spread and keep our most high-risk populations safe. The initiative presents the entire country with an opportunity to implement actions designed to slow and limit the spread of COVID-19, like staying home as much as much as possible, canceling or postponing gatherings of more than 10 people, and taking additional steps to distance themselves from other people. For the latest updates and information on how to protect yourself and what to do if you think you are sick is available at www.coronavirus.gov.

On March 27, President Trump signed the CARES Act into law. The CARES Act allocates $2 trillion to COVID-19 response efforts.

On March 22, President Trump directed the Secretary of Defense to permit full Federal reimbursement, by FEMA for the states of California, New York and Washington, for states’ use of their National Guard forces. On March 28, President Trump approved requests from Florida, Guam, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey and Puerto Rico. The President’s action provides Governors continued command of their National Guard forces, while being federally funded under Title 32, enabling these States to use the additional resources to meet the missions necessary in the COVID-19 response.

As of March 28, FEMA, via the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), has delivered, or is shipping: 11.6 million N-95 respirators, 26 million surgical masks, 5.2 million face shields, 4.3 million surgical gowns, 22 million gloves, 132, 000 coveralls and 8,100 ventilators. FEMA is expediting movement of critical supplies from the global market to medical distributers in various locations across the United States. Movement of supplies began on Saturday, March 28. The first flight will arrive today, March 29, with 80 tons of personal protection equipment (PPE) supplies including 130,000 N95 respirators, 1.8 million face masks and gowns, 30 million gloves and thousands of thermometers for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Twenty-four states and 12 tribes have issued stay at home orders.

Please see attached for updated information on Medical Hotspots, the federal response efforts, federal funding of the National Guard, Community Based Testing Sites (CBTS), Strategic National Stockpile, Ventilator Guidance, Defense Production Act, coping with stress, disinformation and rumor control, and How to Help for volunteers and the private sector.

If you have any questions, please contact the National Business Emergency Operations Center at NBEOC@max.gov.

###

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.