FEMA’s Office of Equal Rights will continue hosting regular teleconferences concerning the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response, to share information and to respond to civil rights-related concerns and questions. OER will be joined by FEMA’s Office of Disability Integration and Coordination (ODIC), the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR). DHS and HHS will address concerns and answer questions from our civil rights stakeholders.

In these uncertain times, organizations across the nation are grappling with when and how to resume operations while protecting the well-being and safety of their employees and communities. Many organizations will be returning to a new normal and are asking: When is it safe to bring people back? Do we need to modify how we operate? How do we keep our employees, customers and community safe? How do we maintain a safe and sanitary environment?

NASHVILLE – After a disaster, fraud can be a problem.

Sometimes, survivors who try to register with FEMA discover that someone has already registered using their name. Scammers may contact survivors who have not registered with FEMA and try to extract money or information. In these cases, it is likely the survivor’s personal data has been compromised.

FEMA reminds survivors:

WASHINGTON – The whole-of-America response to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic continued today, as medical supplies arrived in Chicago via FEMA’s Project Airbridge, for distribution to hard-hit areas around the country.  NATO ally Turkey donated other much needed supplies, such as gloves, goggles and hand sanitizer to support America’s fight against the virus.

Meanwhile, FEMA continues to expedite movement of commercially pre-sourced and procured critical supplies from the global market to medical distributors in various locations across the U.S. through Project Airbridge.

This represents the largest funding allocation in the history of the Center

KANSAS CITY – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has obligated nearly $23 million to the State of Kansas to help reimburse eligible expenses the state has incurred as a result of its response to COVID-19.

The grant funds, awarded by FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) Grant Program, were made available Wednesday, April 29 and are authorized under a major disaster declaration approved by President Trump on March 29 for the entire state. There is no need for any additional action from the State regarding this Declaration and the Federal assistance associated with it.

NASHVILLE – A public notice is now available that addresses the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) intention to reimburse eligible applicants for costs to repair or replace facilities damaged by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding in Tennessee April 12-13, 2020 under disaster declaration DR-4541-TN.

WASHINGTON – The whole-of-America response to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic continued today, as two of the military’s elite flight demonstration squadrons performed flyover salutes to medical professionals and other front liners in the fight against COVID-19.  The Navy’s Blue Angels and Air Force’s Thunderbirds made flyovers in New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, FEMA continues to expedite movement of commercially pre-sourced and procured critical supplies from the global market to medical distributors in various locations across the U.S. through Project Airbridge.

Canton, Miss. – Disaster survivors who are renters in Covington, Jefferson Davis and Jones counties and who sustained damage as a result of the severe storms, tornados, straight-line winds, and flooding that struck on April 12, 2020 should apply now for disaster assistance from FEMA.

FEMA disaster grants for qualified homeowners and renters may help pay for basic repairs to make a home habitable, provide eligible homeowners and renters with temporary rental assistance as well as provide assistance for disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other sources.

NASHVILLE – After registering for federal disaster assistance, it is important that FEMA be able to contact you. Be aware that phone calls from FEMA may appear to come from unidentified numbers and make sure that FEMA has your current contact information.

FEMA currently is calling some survivors in Davidson, Putnam and Wilson counties to conduct a remote house inspection, via telephone, in order to be able to continue processing their application for assistance after the March 3 tornadoes. FEMA also may contact survivors to obtain more information for their application.

FEMA, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity Infrastructure and Security Agency (CISA), along with other federal agencies, distribute cloth facial coverings as part of a multi-prong approach to re-open American economic activity while continuing to limit spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

PANAMA CITY, Fla. — FEMA has approved three projects totaling nearly $5.6 million for the State of Florida to reimburse Bay County, Bay District Schools and Community Charter Academy for emergency protective measures taken after Hurricane Michael.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. — FEMA has approved two projects totaling more than $2.4 million to reimburse the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for Hurricane Michael recovery work.

WASHINGTON – The whole-of-America response to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic continued today, as more respirators were moved to high priority areas based on COVID-19 activity data.  More than four million respirators arrived last Friday at Baltimore’s BWI Airport, the largest shipment to date of FEMA’s Defense Production Act order from 3M. A total of 166.5 million respirators from the order will continue arriving through June.

Canton, Miss. – When a disaster strikes, unscrupulous people may try to take advantage of survivors by posing as official disaster aid workers or even as relatives trying to help survivors complete their applications.

Mississippi disaster survivors should be aware of and prepared for possible fraud and scams, and the need to report any suspicious activity or potential fraud from scam artists or identity thieves to local law enforcement officials.

So far, April is the month with the largest number of project obligations with 428 grants approved

DENVER – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has provided $12.2 million in funding for COVID-19 response efforts in Colorado. The assistance was made available under the major disaster declaration issued March 28 by President Trump.

A breakdown of the most recent funding is as follows:

NASHVILLE – Renters in Bradley and Hamilton counties whose homes and property were damaged by the tornadoes and severe storms April 12-13 can apply for federal disaster assistance.

FEMA Individual Assistance is available to renters, including students, as well as homeowners. Federal grants can help pay for temporary housing. The initial rental grant is for a 60-day period and can be reviewed for further assistance. The registration deadline is June 24, 2020.

Federal Resources available for emergency work, infrastructure repairs

Bismarck, N.D. – Dickey and Emmons counties were added to the federal disaster declaration issued by President Trump on January 21, 2020 in response to North Dakota flooding from October 9 to October 26, 2019.

WASHINGTON – FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor spoke with media outlets around the nation Friday about the whole-of-America response to COVID-19.  The Administrator talked about the historic response to COVID-19, how FEMA will apply lessons learned and future guidance on how the agency will operate during the upcoming hurricane season and COVID-19 pandemic.

During the interview, with Gray TV, Administrator Gaynor talked about several actions to consider before a hurricane approaches, like moving those at risk or in the path of a storm to a shelter.