[CAFR-Contacts-News] FW: RX Public Assistance COVID-19 FEMA Daily Update 5.14.2020

Thu May 14 14:04:51 PDT 2020

Forwarded on behalf of ECC

From: McCormick, Sean M <sean.m.mccormick at state.or.us>
Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2020 1:28 PM
To: HAMILTON Robert W * DAS <Robert.W.HAMILTON at oregon.gov>; FERNANDEZ Mini D * DAS <Mini.D.Fernandez at oregon.gov>
Cc: Jason Jantzi <jjantzi at sdao.com>
Subject: FW: RX Public Assistance COVID-19 FEMA Daily Update 5.14.2020

Latest updates to be shared statewide.

Thank You

Sean M. McCormick
Chief Financial Officer / Legislative Coordinator
State Disaster Recovery Coordinator (DR-4499)
Oregon Military Department
Desk: (503) 584-3875
Mobile: (503) 881-3996
sean.m.mccormick at mil.state.or.us<mailto:sean.m.mccormick at mil.state.or.us>

From: Slevin, Julie
Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2020 1:10 PM
To: 'localtribal-em at listsmart.osl.state.or.us' <localtribal-em at listsmart.osl.state.or.us<mailto:localtribal-em at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>>; 'Oers-council at listsmart.osl.state.or.us' <Oers-council at listsmart.osl.state.or.us<mailto:Oers-council at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>>
Cc: 'Jeff Stump' <JStump at ctclusi.org<mailto:JStump at ctclusi.org>>; Lessey Cameron <cameron.lessey at mil.state.or.us<mailto:cameron.lessey at mil.state.or.us>>; Kuechle Lillianna <lillianna.kuechle at mil.state.or.us<mailto:lillianna.kuechle at mil.state.or.us>>; 'Lucas Pagan' <lpagan at acdisaster.com<mailto:lpagan at acdisaster.com>>; npeters at acdisaster.com<mailto:npeters at acdisaster.com>; Kaufman, Joseph <Joseph.Kaufman at fema.dhs.gov<mailto:Joseph.Kaufman at fema.dhs.gov>>; McCormick, Sean M <Sean.M.McCormick at mil.state.or.us<mailto:Sean.M.McCormick at mil.state.or.us>>
Subject: FW: RX Public Assistance COVID-19 FEMA Daily Update 5.14.2020

Good Afternoon , here is todays FEMA Region Ten Update 5-14-20

Subject: RX Public Assistance COVID-19 FEMA Daily Update 5.14.2020

Good afternoon,

Here's today's update! Please keep letting us know how we can assist you, and if there are any particular topics or questions you'd like to be addressed.

Cost share adjustments: There continues to be a lot of interest in cost share adjustments. HQ has a number of requests from states and tribes that remain under review and there is proposed legislation that may address. There is no update or progress to report at this time.

Duplication of Benefits: We have not received any updated information on duplication of benefits;  current guidance for funding available under CARES act and other COVID legislation does not explicitly answer many questions that may arise, especially around duplication of benefits. HQ is currently working on additional guidance for avoiding duplication of benefits and we will continue to obligate funding for PA eligible costs with applicant certification that they have not received other federal funding for those same costs. There may be applicants who receive PA funds and then want to seek reimbursement under a different authority, and in those cases we will have to deobligate FEMA funding. Some important points:

  *   The CARES Act and supplemental appropriations provide significant Federal funding from a number of departments and agencies to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Treasury, HHS, HUD, USDA and FEMA. Some of these authorities are very broad, and FEMA and other Federal agencies may be able to provide assistance for the same activities, however funding cannot be used to pay for the same cost twice. Applicants should not wait on funding determinations to take actions necessary to protect public health and safety.

  *   FEMA is working with other Federal agencies to coordinate the provision of assistance, so that applicants can make the best decisions on funding in order to meet the needs that they face. As part of this effort, FEMA is also coordinating with other agencies to ensure that Federal assistance is not duplicated from various sources. Section 312 of the Stafford Act prohibits FEMA from providing financial assistance where it would duplicate funding from another program, insurance, or any other source for the same costs. Applicants should not request funding for costs that are being claimed or paid for by other sources of funding.  If FEMA or the Recipient later determines an Applicant has paid for costs using funding from another federal agency, FEMA may de-obligate funding and the Applicant will have to demonstrate that duplicate funding was not provided.

  *   The FEMA Public Assistance Program is implementing controls to prevent duplication of benefits in the provision of Public Assistance funding, and is highlighting this requirement in the program delivery process so that applicants are aware of this as they apply for Public Assistance funding. Applicants certify to the following in applying for PA funding: "I certify that the specific activities and costs in this project application were not requested from another funding source or, if they were requested, that other source has not yet approved the funding. Further, I certify that if the Applicant does receive funding for the specific activities and costs in this project application, I must notify the Recipient and FEMA, and funding will be reconciled to eliminate duplication."

COVID-19 Purchase and Distribution of Food Policy Clarification: Under the current COVID -19 Pandemic: Purchase and Distribution of Food Eligible for Public Assistance policy<https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2020/04/12/coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-purchase-and-distribution-food-eligible-public>, FEMA may provide funding for an initial 30-day time period and SLTT governments may request a 30-day time extension from the Regional Administrator with documentation showing continued need.  Since the April 12, 2020 release of the policy, which announced funding support for the purchase and distribution of food, Emergency Protective Measures have been used to meet the immediate nutritional needs of individuals across the country in a variety of methods that is not typically eligible under Public Assistance, Category B.  Depending on the time period for which the SLTT government requested reimbursement, eligibility under this policy for the initial 60 days could end as soon as May 13, 2020. In the development and release of this policy, it was envisioned that FEMA would fill the immediate needs while other federal program and funding became available. Due mainly to issues with timing and the scale of need, the suite of other federal programs is not expected to meet the needs of individuals coping with COVID-related food insecurity across all states before SLTT governments are likely to reach the end of their initial 30 - 60 day eligibility periods. Therefore, Public Assistance is clarifying that extensions beyond the initial 60 days (30 days or less per extension) are allowable when necessary as an Emergency Protective Measures for the purchase and distribution of food through the duration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, as determined by HHS, in alignment with existing policy guidance.  The Regional Administrator is authorized to grant these additional extensions.

  *   All applicant, work, and cost eligibility criteria in the current policy should continue based on persisting or worsening need.
  *   Allowing for additional extensions will address the timing constraint of other federal programs.
     *   USDA expects to begin distribution of TEFAP product funded through the CARES Act in July 2020.
     *   FEMA Regions report that current PA-funded programs may require up to two weeks to stand down operations.
     *   Many stay-at-home orders are expected to be in place at least into June 2020. CDC recommends that at-risk populations remain at home even longer.
     *   It is not possible to accurately evaluate the need for continued Emergency Protective Measures beyond July 2020. PA will coordinate with the Food Security Working Group to conduct an additional evaluation in June 2020, once more states have removed stay-at-home orders and the initial impacts of USDA programs can be evaluated.
  *   Extension Criteria Beyond 60 days
     *   The SLTT should collaborate with government stakeholders including the HHS Administration for Community Living (ACL), State Units on Aging, Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), regional and local Housing and Urban Development Public Housing Authority (HUD/PHA) , and USDA Food and Nutrition Service to understand what they are doing to address these needs and communicate assistance requirements.
     *   The SLTT should also collaborate with non-governmental organizations including volunteer organizations, senior centers and adult day care, and service/volunteer organizations including Meals on Wheels, the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross, faith-based communities, and other organizations. Identify what resources that might be applied or redirected to close gaps.
     *   All efforts should be made to prioritize the most vulnerable populations, then register those needing assistance into these more traditional nutrition assistance programs, thereby, further stabilizing the situation and ensuring FEMA eligibility.  Refer to the FEMA/HHS Community Mitigation Task Force, Sustaining Nutritional Needs for At-Risk Individuals at https://www.phe.gov/emergency/events/COVID19/atrisk/Documents/sustianing-nutritional-needs-atrisk-individuals.pdf and Information on Federal Programs to Sustain Nutrition for At-Risk Individuals at https://www.phe.gov/emergency/events/COVID19/Documents/Nutrition-ProgramChecklist.pdf
     *   While FEMA is coordinating with other partners to determine the appropriate level and source of support moving forward, it is very important that the SLTT work on transition plans that may be needed beyond additional extensions.

COVID-19 Damage Identification Deadline: Please see the attached memo which extends the 60-day deadline to identify and report damage for the nationwide emergency declaration and all subsequent major disaster declarations for the incident.

GM/GP update coming this weekend: We can expect a system update this weekend that will allow recipients to elect to review streamlined applications prior to their submission to the CRC.

Grants Portal Webinars for next week (5/18-5/22): flyer with links attached

[cid:image002.png at 01D629D7.26800580]

Attached new document from HQ as of 5/14/2020:
-          COVID-19 60 Day Deadline to Identify Damage Memo (05.14.2020)
-          Grants Portal Webinars (5/18-5/22)

Thank you for all your continued efforts in helping the nation before, during and after disasters. As new information becomes available, we will do our best to make this information as accessible as possible.

[Federal Emergency Management Agency logo]

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/cafr-contacts-news/attachments/20200514/b5d8c744/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 12905 bytes
Desc: image001.png
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/cafr-contacts-news/attachments/20200514/b5d8c744/attachment.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.png
Type: image/png
Size: 78399 bytes
Desc: image002.png
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/cafr-contacts-news/attachments/20200514/b5d8c744/attachment-0001.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: 05142020 - COVID-19 60-Day Deadline to Identify Damage Memo.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 162462 bytes
Desc: 05142020 - COVID-19 60-Day Deadline to Identify Damage Memo.pdf
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/cafr-contacts-news/attachments/20200514/b5d8c744/attachment.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: FEMA PA Webinars 2020-05-18to22 Final.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 204411 bytes
Desc: FEMA PA Webinars 2020-05-18to22 Final.pdf
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/cafr-contacts-news/attachments/20200514/b5d8c744/attachment-0001.pdf>