What Does It Mean If My State Is Declared to Be in a “State of Emergency”?

By Allon Mordel, MD

Medically reviewed

March 12, 2020

More and more places in the U.S. are declaring a “state of emergency.” This term can be scary so here’s what it really means for you if you live in one of these areas.

The meaning of this varies by state, but generally speaking a “state of emergency” grants a Governor certain financial and regulatory freedoms to focus on the crisis at hand. It gives the Governor and State access to Federal funding and resources that will provide hospitals, schools, and other important systems the support they need to function. It also allows the Governor to forgo certain State and Federal laws and regulations in order to more efficiently address the emergency. Think of it as giving the Governor a mandate to cut through red tape.

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K Health articles are all written and reviewed by MDs, PhDs, NPs, or PharmDs and are for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute and should not be relied on for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment.

Allon Mordel, MD

Allon Mordel is the Medical Director at K Health. Dr. Mordel is a graduate of the University of Georgia and served as an EMT for the city and county services. He was accepted into residency at the NYU/ Bellevue Emergency Medicine Residency Program where he distinguished himself and became Chief Resident on his way to becoming an Attending Physician.