The Trump administration issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the city of New York this morning. And he declared the Big Apple as the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States.
The emergency declaration came later Friday night from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and it unlocks access to a nationwide pot of $42 billion in vital aid from the Disaster Relief Fund. New York cases have begun to soar, according to Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, and critical medical supplies remain scarce
“With no time to waste, the administration heeded the call and approved the nation’s first Major Disaster Declaration in response to the coronavirus, right here in New York,” Schumer said in a statement.
It also means that the Army is moving in to New York City.
The US military has been be called in, according to reports, and the US Army Corps of Engineers have said they plans to take over hotels, sports arenas, college dorms and other buildings in a bid to bolster the number of available hospital rooms.
Here’s video of the Army pulling up in New York City: