Release date: April 25, 2020

Release Number: HQ-20-121

WASHINGTON – FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor spoke with media outlets around the nation Friday about the whole-of-America response to COVID-19. The Administrator talked about the historic response to COVID-19, how FEMA will apply lessons learned and future guidance on how the agency will operate during the upcoming hurricane season and COVID-19 pandemic.

During the interview, with Gray TV, Administrator Gaynor talked about several actions to consider before a hurricane approaches, like moving those at risk or in the path of a storm to a shelter.

“Typically, in a hurricane, we would move people from their homes that are at risk to a shelter,” he said. “But now we have to take that into consideration. How much space do we need in a shelter? What are all the conditions that have to be there, to make sure that we are socially distancing and that we have good hygiene in shelters?”

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During a Nextar Media interview Administrator Gaynor talked about FEMA’s historic response to COVID-19 and how the pandemic prompted a major disaster declaration for every state, the five territories and Washington, D.C., for the first time in U.S. history. “This is an historic response,” he said, adding that FEMA has a huge footprint across the country and territories in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Administrator added, “This thing [coronavirus] is so immense that it takes the whole of America, whole of community to do this.”

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Yesterday on Telemundo’s “Noticias Telemundo Medio Día,” FEMA’s National Spokesperson Daniel Llargues talked about the whole-of-America response to COVID-19 and FEMA’s Project Airbridge. Llargues provided the latest numbers of flights and medical supplies transported to the U.S. to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Llargues also talked about the historic response to COVID-19 and the whole-of-America response.

“Emergencies are locally executed, state managed and federally supported,” said Llargues (translated).

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On Univision’s “Edición Digital,” FEMA’s National Spokesperson Daniel Llargues talked about FEMA’s Project Airbridge and the historic whole-of-America response to COVID-19.

“This is the first time in the history of the U.S. and FEMA that 50 states, five territories and the District of Columbia have been declared at once under one major disaster declaration,” he said (translated). “Hurricane season is approaching, and we ask that everyone take time to prepare at home with an emergency supply kit, copies of important documents. Everyone needs to be prepared.”

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Visit Ready.gov for additional information and upcoming PSAs for coronavirus response.

For any media inquiries or interview requests, please contact the FEMA News Desk, FEMA-News-Desk@fema.dhs.gov.



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Source: FEMA.gov