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| As Federal Government Mobilizes, Local Officials Say Response Remains Too Slow | As Federal Government Mobilizes, Local Officials Say Response Remains Too Slow |
| (5 days later) | |
| WASHINGTON — Federal emergency response teams toured a convention center in New York City on Monday, a sign that a much-needed temporary hospital is on the way. California has received hundreds of thousands of masks for those on the front lines of the outbreak. And President Trump said desperately needed protective equipment was on its way to Washington State. | WASHINGTON — Federal emergency response teams toured a convention center in New York City on Monday, a sign that a much-needed temporary hospital is on the way. California has received hundreds of thousands of masks for those on the front lines of the outbreak. And President Trump said desperately needed protective equipment was on its way to Washington State. |
| In spots around the nation, the gears of the federal government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak have begun turning. But as the Federal Emergency Management Agency grapples with a crisis whose breadth poses challenges it has never confronted before, state and local leaders lament the time already lost and say the delivery of essential supplies remains far too slow to address their quickly expanding list of needs. | In spots around the nation, the gears of the federal government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak have begun turning. But as the Federal Emergency Management Agency grapples with a crisis whose breadth poses challenges it has never confronted before, state and local leaders lament the time already lost and say the delivery of essential supplies remains far too slow to address their quickly expanding list of needs. |
| “There has been a little bit of progress. But not fast enough,” Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland, a Republican who is the chairman of the National Governors Association, said on Monday, an echo of the mix of appreciation and frustration being expressed by governors and city leaders nationwide. | “There has been a little bit of progress. But not fast enough,” Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland, a Republican who is the chairman of the National Governors Association, said on Monday, an echo of the mix of appreciation and frustration being expressed by governors and city leaders nationwide. |
| Most pressing: urgent shortages of protective equipment in particular, like gloves and masks. | Most pressing: urgent shortages of protective equipment in particular, like gloves and masks. |
| “We need them for correctional officers. We need them for health care workers. We need them for police officers,” Mr. Hogan said. “We need them for all front-line people. All the people who are doing the testing.” | “We need them for correctional officers. We need them for health care workers. We need them for police officers,” Mr. Hogan said. “We need them for all front-line people. All the people who are doing the testing.” |
| Late last week, Mr. Trump put FEMA in charge of the federal government’s response to the outbreak as states ramped up calls for additional assistance. The agency is charged with finding and issuing resources for states among federal agencies and the private sector. | Late last week, Mr. Trump put FEMA in charge of the federal government’s response to the outbreak as states ramped up calls for additional assistance. The agency is charged with finding and issuing resources for states among federal agencies and the private sector. |
| Mr. Trump said on Monday that FEMA was in the process of distributing more than eight million N95 masks and 13 million surgical masks to states. The administration is also sending 73 pallets of equipment to New York City and an additional 36 pallets to Washington State. It was unclear when the states would receive such materials, and the numbers are only a tiny share of what is needed. | Mr. Trump said on Monday that FEMA was in the process of distributing more than eight million N95 masks and 13 million surgical masks to states. The administration is also sending 73 pallets of equipment to New York City and an additional 36 pallets to Washington State. It was unclear when the states would receive such materials, and the numbers are only a tiny share of what is needed. |
| Mr. Trump, who has counted on companies to donate materials as opposed to mandating production under the Defense Production Act, a Korean War-era law, also said more than six million masks had been donated to FEMA in the past 96 hours. | Mr. Trump, who has counted on companies to donate materials as opposed to mandating production under the Defense Production Act, a Korean War-era law, also said more than six million masks had been donated to FEMA in the past 96 hours. |
| “We’re having millions and millions of masks made as we speak,” said Mr. Trump, adding, “Everybody’s working together.” | “We’re having millions and millions of masks made as we speak,” said Mr. Trump, adding, “Everybody’s working together.” |
| The administration also issued an executive order on Monday evening to delegate authority to health officials to prevent hoarding of protective gear — a move that may help to head off recent criticisms of the White House for not using the full force of its powers to channel goods where they are needed most. Peter Navarro, the White House trade adviser, has said that the Defense Production Act is not currently necessary, but that it might be invoked in the future to crack down on hoarders. Critics have said invoking it now could speed production of lifesaving supplies and equipment. | The administration also issued an executive order on Monday evening to delegate authority to health officials to prevent hoarding of protective gear — a move that may help to head off recent criticisms of the White House for not using the full force of its powers to channel goods where they are needed most. Peter Navarro, the White House trade adviser, has said that the Defense Production Act is not currently necessary, but that it might be invoked in the future to crack down on hoarders. Critics have said invoking it now could speed production of lifesaving supplies and equipment. |
| Among those critics was Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York, who again questioned on Monday why the federal government had not moved more aggressively. Still, Mr. Cuomo tempered his criticism with praise for the pace of the Trump administration’s response to a request he submitted Sunday for additional hospital capacity in New York, which the federal government agreed later that same day to help provide. | Among those critics was Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York, who again questioned on Monday why the federal government had not moved more aggressively. Still, Mr. Cuomo tempered his criticism with praise for the pace of the Trump administration’s response to a request he submitted Sunday for additional hospital capacity in New York, which the federal government agreed later that same day to help provide. |
| “President Trump did deliver yesterday,” said Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat. “That is government working. That is the government working quickly. And I thanked him for it. It makes a big difference to New York.” | “President Trump did deliver yesterday,” said Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat. “That is government working. That is the government working quickly. And I thanked him for it. It makes a big difference to New York.” |
| Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, a Democrat, took to Twitter on Monday to vent his frustration with the slow federal response, publishing a chart of all the medical supplies that the state had requested from the federal government and how much it had received, with almost none of its requests fulfilled so far. | Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, a Democrat, took to Twitter on Monday to vent his frustration with the slow federal response, publishing a chart of all the medical supplies that the state had requested from the federal government and how much it had received, with almost none of its requests fulfilled so far. |
| For example, the state wants 2.34 million N95 masks, but has gotten only 246,000, the governor said. | For example, the state wants 2.34 million N95 masks, but has gotten only 246,000, the governor said. |
| “We need the federal government to use the Defense Production Act to help the states get what we need,” Mr. Pritzker wrote in a follow-up tweet. “It’s the federal government’s job to make sure that a nurse being properly equipped in Illinois doesn’t come at the cost of a doctor being ready for work in California.” | “We need the federal government to use the Defense Production Act to help the states get what we need,” Mr. Pritzker wrote in a follow-up tweet. “It’s the federal government’s job to make sure that a nurse being properly equipped in Illinois doesn’t come at the cost of a doctor being ready for work in California.” |
| Rear Adm. John Polowczyk acknowledged at the briefing with Mr. Trump on Monday that FEMA had only in recent days formed a task force to find personal protective equipment for the states, a sign that the agency is in the initial phase of finding resources that have been desperately needed for weeks. | Rear Adm. John Polowczyk acknowledged at the briefing with Mr. Trump on Monday that FEMA had only in recent days formed a task force to find personal protective equipment for the states, a sign that the agency is in the initial phase of finding resources that have been desperately needed for weeks. |
| The challenge for FEMA, disaster response experts said, is that it has never before faced a sudden and nationwide demand for an emergency response, as it is usually focused on more regional events like hurricanes, flooding or earthquakes. | The challenge for FEMA, disaster response experts said, is that it has never before faced a sudden and nationwide demand for an emergency response, as it is usually focused on more regional events like hurricanes, flooding or earthquakes. |
| The competing interests among states — which now suddenly all have immediate demands — present a significant challenge to the agency, which suffers from chronic understaffing, according to Chris Currie, the director of the section of the Government Accountability Office that wrote a 2017 report on the shortages. | The competing interests among states — which now suddenly all have immediate demands — present a significant challenge to the agency, which suffers from chronic understaffing, according to Chris Currie, the director of the section of the Government Accountability Office that wrote a 2017 report on the shortages. |
| “FEMA doesn’t have enough people to send out to every state in the country,” Mr. Currie said. “Now that they’ve turned the lever and FEMA is involved, they’ve brought those capabilities to bear, but we’ve never had a public health emergency on this scale.” | “FEMA doesn’t have enough people to send out to every state in the country,” Mr. Currie said. “Now that they’ve turned the lever and FEMA is involved, they’ve brought those capabilities to bear, but we’ve never had a public health emergency on this scale.” |
| Peter T. Gaynor, the FEMA administrator, acknowledged the challenge his agency was facing: hundreds of requests for the same set of medical supplies. | Peter T. Gaynor, the FEMA administrator, acknowledged the challenge his agency was facing: hundreds of requests for the same set of medical supplies. |
| “The demand on these critical items is not only nationally, it’s globally,” he said during an interview on CNN on Sunday. “So, we have been shipping. We’re going to ship tomorrow. We’re linking supplies, not only from the national stockpile, but from vendors and commercial donations.” | “The demand on these critical items is not only nationally, it’s globally,” he said during an interview on CNN on Sunday. “So, we have been shipping. We’re going to ship tomorrow. We’re linking supplies, not only from the national stockpile, but from vendors and commercial donations.” |
| Despite this challenge, there is widespread evidence of the start-up of a large-scale federal response. | Despite this challenge, there is widespread evidence of the start-up of a large-scale federal response. |
| As of Monday morning, FEMA had dispatched incident management and liaison teams to 59 communities, an increase from the 44 working with local leaders last week, according to daily briefings produced by the agency. | As of Monday morning, FEMA had dispatched incident management and liaison teams to 59 communities, an increase from the 44 working with local leaders last week, according to daily briefings produced by the agency. |
| The teams are integrated into local emergency operations centers, where they work alongside city and state officials and facilitate requests for additional supplies, said Lizzie Litzow, a FEMA spokeswoman. Still, Ms. Litzow said the agency was encouraging governors to buy the equipment themselves. The agency will then reimburse the states, she said. | The teams are integrated into local emergency operations centers, where they work alongside city and state officials and facilitate requests for additional supplies, said Lizzie Litzow, a FEMA spokeswoman. Still, Ms. Litzow said the agency was encouraging governors to buy the equipment themselves. The agency will then reimburse the states, she said. |
| Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Monday that Army field hospitals would arrive in New York and Seattle in the next three days, bringing to each city the ability to care for an additional 248 patients. | Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Monday that Army field hospitals would arrive in New York and Seattle in the next three days, bringing to each city the ability to care for an additional 248 patients. |
| Updated July 27, 2020 | |
| The hospitals, one to each city, will have 11 ventilators each, General Milley told reporters during a telephone briefing. But Defense Department officials said the field hospitals would most likely not be used to treat patients with the coronavirus. Instead, they will free up hospital beds in other New York and Seattle area hospitals. | The hospitals, one to each city, will have 11 ventilators each, General Milley told reporters during a telephone briefing. But Defense Department officials said the field hospitals would most likely not be used to treat patients with the coronavirus. Instead, they will free up hospital beds in other New York and Seattle area hospitals. |
| “In 72 hours or earlier, you will see combat vehicles pulling into Seattle and New York,” General Milley said. Other military mobile combat hospitals around the country are on prepare-to-deploy orders, and may soon be headed to stricken areas, he said. Meanwhile, the San Diego-based Navy hospital ship, the Mercy, is headed to Los Angeles with its 1,000 beds. | “In 72 hours or earlier, you will see combat vehicles pulling into Seattle and New York,” General Milley said. Other military mobile combat hospitals around the country are on prepare-to-deploy orders, and may soon be headed to stricken areas, he said. Meanwhile, the San Diego-based Navy hospital ship, the Mercy, is headed to Los Angeles with its 1,000 beds. |
| General Milley said that he had told the Army units operating the field hospitals, with their staff of doctors, nurses and medical specialists, to begin deploying, but added that the Defense Department was waiting for a final go-ahead from FEMA. | General Milley said that he had told the Army units operating the field hospitals, with their staff of doctors, nurses and medical specialists, to begin deploying, but added that the Defense Department was waiting for a final go-ahead from FEMA. |
| Last week, FEMA’s focus was to assist the Department of Health and Human Services with future needs and producing products that raised awareness of the outbreak, according to documents from the agency. Now, the agency’s teams are working with officials from the department to stand up testing sites and additional hospital space, according to a briefing. | Last week, FEMA’s focus was to assist the Department of Health and Human Services with future needs and producing products that raised awareness of the outbreak, according to documents from the agency. Now, the agency’s teams are working with officials from the department to stand up testing sites and additional hospital space, according to a briefing. |
| The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers received orders to begin construction in New York — its first such assignment from FEMA during the outbreak — on Saturday, according to Raini Brunson, a spokeswoman for the agency. The corps has identified four locations for temporary hospitals in Manhattan and Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties. | The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers received orders to begin construction in New York — its first such assignment from FEMA during the outbreak — on Saturday, according to Raini Brunson, a spokeswoman for the agency. The corps has identified four locations for temporary hospitals in Manhattan and Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties. |
| The corps is also planning on building hospital space in other states but has yet to receive a directive to begin. And it has not awarded a contract for the construction in New York, a process that could take weeks. | The corps is also planning on building hospital space in other states but has yet to receive a directive to begin. And it has not awarded a contract for the construction in New York, a process that could take weeks. |
| Teams from FEMA, the Department of Health and Human Services and the corps did a walk-through at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan on Monday morning to begin turning it into a “medical surge space” that could house 3,500 hospital beds. But Deanne Criswell, New York City’s emergency management commissioner and a former senior FEMA official, said she had not been told when the facility would be ready for patients — the most important question for the city. | Teams from FEMA, the Department of Health and Human Services and the corps did a walk-through at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan on Monday morning to begin turning it into a “medical surge space” that could house 3,500 hospital beds. But Deanne Criswell, New York City’s emergency management commissioner and a former senior FEMA official, said she had not been told when the facility would be ready for patients — the most important question for the city. |
| “In all my years of disaster management, the most precious commodity is always time,” she said. “And what we’ve lost is time.” | “In all my years of disaster management, the most precious commodity is always time,” she said. “And what we’ve lost is time.” |
| New York City has received two shipments of protective equipment from the administration, totaling 640,000 N95 masks and 500,000 surgical masks, including tens of thousands that are expired. Early Monday morning, an additional 400 ventilators were delivered to the city. Mayor Bill de Blasio sent a letter on March 20 to Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading the White House response to the virus, that reiterated the city’s need for three million N95 masks, 50 million surgical masks and 15,000 ventilators. | New York City has received two shipments of protective equipment from the administration, totaling 640,000 N95 masks and 500,000 surgical masks, including tens of thousands that are expired. Early Monday morning, an additional 400 ventilators were delivered to the city. Mayor Bill de Blasio sent a letter on March 20 to Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading the White House response to the virus, that reiterated the city’s need for three million N95 masks, 50 million surgical masks and 15,000 ventilators. |
| The White House also committed to sending 55 gallons of hand sanitizer and 200,000 gloves, although the city has not received the materials. | The White House also committed to sending 55 gallons of hand sanitizer and 200,000 gloves, although the city has not received the materials. |
| Mr. Hogan, the Maryland governor, also said on Monday that the state asked for help from the Army Corps of Engineers and the National Guard to set up a hospital at a convention center in Baltimore, and an adjacent hotel. FEMA will be in charge of delivering the equipment and personnel for 250 beds that will be part of this new hospital complex. | Mr. Hogan, the Maryland governor, also said on Monday that the state asked for help from the Army Corps of Engineers and the National Guard to set up a hospital at a convention center in Baltimore, and an adjacent hotel. FEMA will be in charge of delivering the equipment and personnel for 250 beds that will be part of this new hospital complex. |
| Mr. Gaynor, the FEMA leader, said on Sunday that the agency was trying to be responsive to the various requests for help it was fielding. The Mercy, a Navy-owned hospital ship, is “immediately” going to go to California, he said, to help treat patients not suffering from the coronavirus, leaving more beds in California hospitals to treat those with the virus. But he said it could be a week before the ship is in place. | Mr. Gaynor, the FEMA leader, said on Sunday that the agency was trying to be responsive to the various requests for help it was fielding. The Mercy, a Navy-owned hospital ship, is “immediately” going to go to California, he said, to help treat patients not suffering from the coronavirus, leaving more beds in California hospitals to treat those with the virus. But he said it could be a week before the ship is in place. |
| “We are filling the governors’ request, and so we send that resource to them,” he said, referring to the sudden requests for more hospital beds. “They’ll put it to best use. They’ll be put to where they — it will have the most effect. So we don’t dictate exactly where it goes.” | “We are filling the governors’ request, and so we send that resource to them,” he said, referring to the sudden requests for more hospital beds. “They’ll put it to best use. They’ll be put to where they — it will have the most effect. So we don’t dictate exactly where it goes.” |
| Helene Cooper and Ana Swanson contributed reporting. | Helene Cooper and Ana Swanson contributed reporting. |