LOC News
Update: White House Briefing on Federal COVID-19 Resources
From this week’s conference call hosted by the White House, the following is a list of updates, resources and requests that city leaders are encouraged to amplify to the public and their agencies.
- Please Report PPE Burn Rate: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) are requesting that all agencies receiving distributions of personal protective equipment (PPE) report the amount they are using, also known as the “burn rate,” to their county’s emergency operations center. This information is essential to ensure adequate distribution of these vital resources throughout the U.S.
- Rumor Control: City leaders are encouraged to check the FEMA Rumor Control page and help address misinformation. Some rumors that have been reported have tended towards the outlandish (i.e. you can’t get COVID-19 from cell towers) and others have resulted from a misunderstanding of the resource distribution system. Local leaders are the most trusted public officials and can play important part in quelling misinformation.
- Mental Health Needs on the Rise: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has reported an increase in the number of calls to their disaster assistance helpline. This service provides mental health counseling for persons impacted by disasters and calls are answered by a certified counselor. Please follow the link above and distribute it widely.
- Beware of CARES Act Scams: Numerous news outlets and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have reported scammers are attempting to obtain CARES Act stimulus checks. These are payments to individuals that are being distributed by the IRS. City leaders should direct their residents to the Economic Impact Payments portal for information about their checks.
- National League of Cities: Finally, please check the National League of Cities COVID-19 page which is regularly updated with news on federal legislation and federal agency information as it becomes available.
The LOC will continue to provide updates on COVID resources and agency news through the Bulletin and social media as it becomes available.
Contact: Scott Winkels, Lobbyist - swinkels@orcities.org
Last Updated 4/17/20