Public Health Emergency in Florida and Alabama in Response to Hurricane Isaias
Under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, President Trump declared a major emergency exists in Florida and Alabama due to the effects of Hurricane Isaias.
Subsequently, on October 13, 2026, the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE) for the affected areas and authorized waivers and modifications under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act. The Section 1135 waivers allow healthcare providers and facilities additional flexibility to continue delivering care during the emergency. These flexibilities apply retroactively effective:
- October 6, 2026 for Florida
- October 7, 2026 for Alabama
Information regarding current emergencies and the waivers is available at CMS’ Emergency Response webpage.
References