Important Dates & Reminders Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool webinar. FEMA Corps member application period closes. Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool webinar. DHS webinar on preventing online child exploitation.

FEMA to Reimburse Eligible Applicants for Funeral Costs Due to COVID-19

In keeping with FEMA’s mission of helping people before, during and after disasters, the agency is providing financial assistance for eligible COVID-19-related funeral expenses.

Eligible expenses must be for funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020, for individuals who died because of COVID-19 in the United States, its territories or the District of Columbia. Currently, there is no application deadline.

Assistance is available to U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals or qualified aliens such as green card holders, asylees and refugees. A deceased individual does not need to be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien.

Eligible applicants may apply by calling the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline at 844-684-6333 or TTY: 800-462-7585 toll free, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. Multilingual services are available on the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline. 

The call center is experiencing a high number of calls, which is causing some technical issues. Some applicants are reaching operators, while others are receiving a busy signal.

We ask that applicants be patient as we work to correct these issues and have all their important documents ready when they call to apply. Additionally, there is no deadline to apply and applicants will have the ability to open a case. 

FEMA will not rush through calls because we intend to make sure that every applicant gets their questions answered and receives the help they need to apply.

Once an individual applies for assistance, FEMA will send a letter explaining the documents required to process the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance application.

These documents include:

• A copy of the death certificate indicating the death “may have been caused by” or “was likely the result of” COVID-19 or COVID-19-like symptoms.
• Proof of funeral expenses needs to include the applicant’s name as the individual who incurred the funeral expenses.
• The deceased individual’s name.
• The date and amount of funeral expenses incurred.
• Documentation of funeral assistance received from any other source.

Eligible COVID-19-related funeral expenses are covered under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

For more information visit FEMA's funeral assistance web page.

FEMA Releases Qualification Fact Sheet for Public Engagement

FEMA is seeking public feedback for the National Qualification System implementation objectives. This national engagement period will open April 13 and conclude at 5 p.m. ET on May 13. National engagement provides an opportunity to comment on the draft implementation objectives to ensure they are relevant for all implementing partners   The objectives reflect the concepts and principles to promote consistency in the National Qualification System implementation nationwide.   The implementation objectives clarify the National Qualification System requirements in the 2021 Emergency Management Performance Grant funding notice. Performance grants recipients are strongly encouraged to implement National Qualification System components with their grant funding. Beginning with Fiscal Year 2022 funds, FEMA intends to leverage the Emergency Management Performance Grant program to make the implementation of the National Qualification System a requirement of eligibility for program funding. Jurisdictions will need to achieve or work toward achieving each of the objectives.   The objectives aim to develop organizational qualification procedures, certification program and credentialing standards in alignment with the National Incident Management System Guideline for the National Qualification System. These indicators serve as actionable activities that jurisdictions can use to demonstrate National Qualification System implementation. The indicators are a tool to assist jurisdictions and organizations in meeting the new implementation objectives.   FEMA will host two, 30-minute webinars to discuss the draft implementation objectives and answer related questions. All webinars are open to the whole community.  Advance registration is required and on a first-come, first-served basis:   Webinar 1: 1 p.m. ET on April 20. Webinar 2: 3 p.m. ET on April 22.   To review the draft National Qualifications System implementation objectives and for additional webinar information, visit FEMA.gov.

FEMA to Provide Full Cost for Safe Opening and Operation Costs

FEMA continues to maximize available COVID-19 response and recovery assistance by providing additional assistance to state, local, tribal and territorial governments and certain private nonprofits for eligible costs to support the safe opening and operation of eligible facilities.

Facilities that might be eligible for safe reopening and operation costs may include schools, medical facilities and government facilities open to the public.

Reimbursement is specifically for COVID-19 emergency and major disaster declarations through FEMA’s Public Assistance program for actions performed from January 21, 2021 to September 30, 2021. Items that may be eligible for reimbursement include:

• Face coverings and other personal protective equipment.
• Cleaning and disinfection.
• COVID-19 diagnostic testing.
• Screening and temperature scanning.
• Portable temporary physical barriers for social distancing.
• Purchase and storage of personal protective equipment and other supplies based on projected needs.

Visit FEMA.gov for more information.

Upcoming Deadlines and Reminders

National Hurricane Program to Host Online Training

To prepare for the 2021 hurricane season, the National Hurricane Program is offering a three-day online training. The training will cover hurricane hazards, hurricane forecast products, forecast uncertainty and informed decision-making. Classes are available to anyone who has, or can obtain, a HURREVAC account. 

The webinar series will be from:

• 1 to 4 p.m. ET on May 4 - 6.

Register in advance for the webinar and provide your occupational details.  

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Sign-Up to Make a Difference With FEMA

The FEMA and AmeriCorps partnership program, FEMA Corps, is seeking talented and enthusiastic adults between 18 – 26 years old to serve the country before, during and after disasters.

FEMA Corps is a volunteer service program to give young adults the chance to be exposed to and work in the field of emergency management. Over the course of 12 months, FEMA Corps works to assist communities prepare for and respond to disasters. Members will travel across the country to assist in FEMA’s mission. Many FEMA Corps alumni go on to become professionals at FEMA and other levels of government.

Applications are now open for the summer class of FEMA Corps and will close April 15.

Go to AmeriCorps.gov or FEMA.gov to learn more. For questions, contact fema-corps-program@fema.dhs.gov.

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Department of Homeland Security Hosts a Webinar on Preventing Online Child Exploitation    April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. To commemorate the month, the Department of Homeland Security, Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the Homeland Security Investigations, Cyber Crimes Center, Child Exploitation Investigation Unit will host a webinar from 2 – 3 p.m. ET on April 15.   The webinar will assist faith and community groups and caregivers of youth and teens on how they can help children to be safer online. The webinar will also address support for families when their children have been victimized by online sexual exploitation.     To join the webinar: Register for the event using the Adobe Connect registration. Test your Adobe Connect prior to the meeting; you may need time to update or install software to access the audio-visual content. This webinar will offer captioning on the webinar platform.   For more information, send an email to iGuardian@ice.dhs.gov. A recording of the webinar will be sent by email to all registered participants in case they are unable to attend or wish to share.

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FEMA Will Host Webinars on the Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool   FEMA will host two 60-minute webinars on April 13 and 15 to provide additional background on the Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool updates, demonstrate multiple capabilities and answer questions from users. Webinars are open to the public and real-time captioning will be available.   Webinar 1: 5 p.m. ET on April 13 Register for the webinar through Eventbrite.   Webinar 2: 2 p.m. ET on April 15 Register for the webinar through Eventbrite.   The "Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool" is available at FEMA.gov. For questions and feedback, email FEMA-TArequest@fema.dhs.gov.

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