The term “medical sheltering” is meant to address the specific needs directly resulting from this Public Health Emergency.  For purposes of eligibility under the COVID-19 declarations, FEMA will consider non-congregate sheltering for health and medical-related needs, such as isolation and quarantine resulting from the public health emergency.  Alternate care sites and temporary hospitals are not considered non-congregate sheltering and such requests should be routed through the proper channels.  Please refer to the Emergency Medical Care for COVID-19 Fact Sheet.

Medical sheltering (e.g. when existing facilities are reasonably forecasted to become overloaded in the near future and cannot accommodate needs)
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o  All sheltering must be conducted in accordance with standards or guidance approved by    HHS/CDC and must be implemented in manner that incorporates social distancing measures.
o  Non‐congregate medical sheltering is subject to prior approval by FEMA and is limited to that  
o Household pet sheltering and containment actions related to household pets in accordance     with CDC guidelines.·      
o Purchase and distribution of food, water, ice,medicine, and other consumable supplies, to      include personal protective equipment and hazardous material suits.·        
o Movement of supplies and persons.·        
o Security and law enforcement.·        
o Communications of general health and safety information to the public.·      
o Search and rescue to locate and recover members of the population requiring assistance.·        
o Reimbursement for state, tribe, territory and/or local government force account overtime      costs.

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