Infant/Toddler Feeding Support in Shelters - National Mass Care Strategy

Meeting the Needs of the Entire Family

Ensuring adequate nutrition for the entire family following a disaster is a critical part of the Mass Care mission. Families with young children are especially vulnerable given the specific needs and unique challenges associated with caring for infants and toddlers. This is particularly true when families are displaced from their homes and must seek shelter in a congregate setting. Emergency Managers are strongly encouraged to plan and provide resources for mothers who may require additional support to continue feeding their children as they would at home, whether through breast milk or infant formula. This can include establishing specific areas for breastfeeding and for bottle washing as addressed in the Multi-Agency Shelter Plan Template.

Federal Support for Infant Formula and Breastfeeding Equipment in Shelters

There are two potential methods to secure federal assistance for infant formula and breastfeeding equipment for use during mass care/sheltering operations during a federally declared disaster when Section 403 is authorized and state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) resources are exceeded. One is through Direct Federal Assistance and the other is through reimbursement under Public Assistance.

One method available to SLTTs is to request reimbursement through FEMA Public Assistance after securing the resources through their own sources. These resources serve as an emergency protective measure, necessary to sustain and support human life.

The Federal share is not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for either method of assistance.

The other, Direct Federal Assistance is initiated by state, tribal or territorial (STT) government when a Resource Request Form is submitted to FEMA for the provision of a specified resource. FEMA then identifies the most appropriate source to meet the request and arranges for transportation and delivery of the resource to the identified location. This method would be appropriate when the STT lacks the capability to secure such resources, which serve as emergency protective measures to sustain and support human life.