---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 5192"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "5192"
heading: "Federal emergency assistance"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/5192"
units:
  - "Chapter 68 — Disaster Relief"
  - "Subchapter IV–A — Emergency Assistance Programs"
---

# §5192. Federal emergency assistance

- (a) **Specified—** In any [emergency](/usc/42/5122.md?p=1), the President may—
  - (1) direct any [Federal agency](/usc/42/5122.md?p=9), with or without reimbursement, to utilize its authorities and the resources granted to it under Federal law (including personnel, equipment, supplies, [facilities](/usc/42/5195a.md?p=a-6), and managerial, technical and advisory services) in support of [State](/usc/42/5122.md?p=4) and local [emergency](/usc/42/5122.md?p=1) assistance efforts to save lives, protect property and public health and safety, and lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe, including precautionary evacuations;
  - (2) coordinate all [disaster](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2) relief assistance (including voluntary assistance) provided by [Federal agencies](/usc/42/5122.md?p=9), private organizations, and [State](/usc/42/5122.md?p=4) and [local governments](/usc/42/5122.md?p=8);
  - (3) provide technical and advisory assistance to affected [State](/usc/42/5122.md?p=4) and [local governments](/usc/42/5122.md?p=8) for—
    - (A) the performance of essential community services;
    - (B) issuance of warnings of risks or [hazards](/usc/42/5195a.md?p=a-1);
    - (C) public health and safety information, including dissemination of such information;
    - (D) provision of health and safety measures; and
    - (E) management, control, and reduction of immediate threats to public health and safety;
  - (4) provide [emergency](/usc/42/5122.md?p=1) assistance through [Federal agencies](/usc/42/5122.md?p=9);
  - (5) remove debris in accordance with the terms and conditions of [section 5173 of this title](/usc/42/5173.md);
  - (6) provide assistance in accordance with [section 5174 of this title](/usc/42/5174.md) and [section 5183 of this title](/usc/42/5183.md);
  - (7) assist [State](/usc/42/5122.md?p=4) and [local governments](/usc/42/5122.md?p=8) in the distribution of medicine, food, and other consumable supplies, and [emergency](/usc/42/5122.md?p=1) assistance; and
  - (8) provide accelerated Federal assistance and Federal support where necessary to save lives, prevent human suffering, or mitigate severe damage, which may be provided in the absence of a specific request and in which case the President—
    - (A) shall, to the fullest extent practicable, promptly notify and coordinate with a [State](/usc/42/5122.md?p=4) in which such assistance or support is provided; and
    - (B) shall not, in notifying and coordinating with a [State](/usc/42/5122.md?p=4) under [subparagraph (A)](#a-8-A), delay or impede the rapid deployment, use, and distribution of critical resources to victims of an [emergency](/usc/42/5122.md?p=1).
- (b) **General—** Whenever the Federal assistance provided under [subsection (a)](#a) with respect to an [emergency](/usc/42/5122.md?p=1) is inadequate, the President may also provide assistance with respect to efforts to save lives, protect property and public health and safety, and lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe, including precautionary evacuations.
- (c) **Guidelines—** The President shall promulgate and maintain guidelines to assist [Governors](/usc/42/5122.md?p=5) in requesting the declaration of an [emergency](/usc/42/5122.md?p=1) in advance of a natural or man-made [disaster](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2) (including for the purpose of seeking assistance with special needs and other evacuation efforts) under this section by defining the types of assistance available to affected [States](/usc/42/5195a.md?p=a-9) and the circumstances under which such requests are likely to be approved.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 93–288, title V, § 502, as added Pub. L. 100–707, title I, § 107(a), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4706; amended Pub. L. 106–390, title II, § 206(b), Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1570; Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 681(b), Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1444; Pub. L. 117–263, div. G, title LXXIII, § 7321(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3691.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2022—Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 117–263 inserted “and section 5183 of this title” after “section 5174 of this title”.

2006—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 109–295, § 681(b)(1)(A), inserted “, including precautionary evacuations” before semicolon at end.

Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 109–295, § 681(b)(1)(B)–(D), added par. (8).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–295, § 681(b)(2), inserted “, including precautionary evacuations” before period at end.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 109–295, § 681(b)(3), added subsec. (c).

2000—Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 106–390 struck out “temporary housing” after “provide”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2022 Amendment

Pub. L. 117–263, div. G, title LXXIII, § 7321(b), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3691, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall only apply to amounts appropriated on or after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2022].”

### Effective Date of 2000 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 106–390 effective 18 months after Oct. 30, 2000, see section 206(d) of Pub. L. 106–390, set out as a note under section 5174 of this title.