Disaster Financial Management Guide and COVID-19 Response

On March 13, 2020, President Trump declared that the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was 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”).

Many government and private sector/nonprofit resources and programs are available to help jurisdictions respond and recover. Navigating various eligibility requirements and application processes can pose administrative challenges. Disaster funding or cost reimbursements are often delayed or not approved because of incomplete paperwork, missed steps in the process or a lack of understanding of the eligibility criteria.

The recently released Disaster Financial Management Guide can help a jurisdiction successfully use all available Federal resources for disaster recovery, to include the COVID-19 Supplemental Funding.