Coronavirus Emergency Management Best Practices

We've compiled best practices and lessons learned that communities faced fighting COVID-19. This collection is not exhaustive, but we will continue to add content and highlight key areas.
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The COVID-19 incident period ended on May 11, 2023. FEMA will continue to provide funeral assistance until Sept. 30, 2025, to those who have lost loved ones due to this pandemic.

Case Studies

Community Innovations

Helping People

Government Operations

Private Sector

Recovery Planning

Medical Supplies

We encourage all emergency managers to review our latest COVID-19 fact sheets for details on federal assistance programs and guidelines.

Organizations can email best practices or lessons learned to fema-cipsupport@fema.dhs.gov.

FEMA does not endorse any non-government entities, organizations, or services. Claims made by third parties have not been independently verified by FEMA.

Stay Informed

Get the latest public health information on coronavirus at www.coronavirus.gov.

Case Studies

View our collection of key findings and considerations for jurisdictions and communities regarding ongoing COVID-19 pandemic operations across the country.

Topics include:

  • Food banks
  • Government engagement with citizens
  • Considerations for people with disabilities
  • Community Emergency Response Teams
  • Volunteer management

View All Case Studies

Community Innovations

Many communities responded to COVID-19 in innovative ways that highlighted the best of American ingenuity.

  • An Alabama-based company creates custom-made, digitally-fitted masks that meld to every contour of a person's face.
  • A new platform matches elder or immunocompromised residents in Oakland, California, with low-risk volunteers who can help them during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The University of Oregon's Institute for Health in the Built Environment is piloting the incorporation of regular testing of building surfaces and air ducts for the virus.

View All Community Innovation Stories

Helping People

  • Disability Considerations
    Guidance for state, local, tribal, and territorial governments on how to ensure that people with disabilities have adequate access to goods and services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Connecting Consumers with Local Food
    Countries, cities and private citizens expanded local food production through family and community gardens to supplement supply chains to address COVID-19 pandemic related effects on traditional farming and food supply chains.
  • Sustaining Nutritional Needs for At-Risk Individuals
    Millions of Americans rely on a range of at-home and community-based food services. This resource provides federal agencies and state, local, tribal and territorial governments tools to sustain and expand home delivered meals and other nutrition programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for at-risk individuals.

View All Helping People Best Practices

Other Resources to Help People

Government Operations

  • The Louisiana State University NCBRT
    This nationally recognized center for emergency management training has developed a range of online COVID-19 resources and trainings for emergency responders.
  • Natural Hazards Preparedness
    Recommendations and best practices for state, local, tribal and territorial officials when managing the risks posed simultaneously by the COVID-19 pandemic and natural hazards.
  • Government Engagement with Citizens
    Methods jurisdictions have used to assess constituent needs to inform response efforts and identify relevant information to share with their communities.
  • Pandemic Operational Guidance 
    To help emergency managers and public health officials prepare for hurricane season and other disasters during COVID-19.

View All Government Operations Best Practices

Other Government Operations Resources

Private Sector and Infrastructure

  • Nuclear Industry Response
    A list of key findings and considerations for jurisdictions and communities regarding use of Nuclear medical technology applications and Nuclear energy during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic operations.
  • Longer-Term Business Reopening
    Strategies supported by guidance from federal, state and local governments that businesses across various sectors can implement to protect employees and customers from COVID-19 as businesses begin phased reopening.
  • Re-Orienting Business Production
    Companies across industries repurposed their production capabilities to support the response to the coronavirus pandemic disease (COVID-19).

View All Private Sector and Infrastructure Best Practices

Recovery Planning and Implementation

  • Unemployment Insurance
    Some examples of strategies states and territories implemented to help individuals file unemployment insurance claims.
  • Reconstitution Planning
    Organizations across the nation are grappling with when and how to resume operations while protecting the well-being and safety of their employees and communities.
  • Financial Management
    The recently released Disaster Financial Management Guide can help a jurisdiction successfully use all available federal resources for disaster recovery, including the COVID-19 Supplemental Funding.
  • Environmental and Historic Preservation
    Identify emergency protective measures for COVID-19 that may adversely affect natural, historic and/or archaeological resources. Learn how to comply with environmental and historic preservation laws, regulations and executive orders.

View All Recovery Planning and Implementation Best Practices

Other Recovery Planning and Implementation Resources

Medical Supplies and Equipment

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