Declaration of Local Emergency Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

UPDATE: The Local Emergency for Arlington County in response to the public health threat posed by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) ended on Aug. 15, 2022.

What does a Declaration of Local Emergency mean for the community?

• A declaration of a local emergency allows the County to request additional resources from the state and federal governments as available to assist in response and recovery efforts.
• Local and State governments share the responsibility for protecting their citizens from disasters, and for helping them to recover when a disaster strikes. In some cases, a disaster is beyond the capacity of the local government to respond. In these instances, they may request additional resources through the state to help them respond to an emergency event.
• The emergency declaration does not guarantee funding, but helps the County pursue requesting assistance from the state and federal government.