HHS Declares Public Health Emergencies for Florida, Alabama following Hurricane Isaias

WASHINGTON, D.C.-OCTOBER 14, 2026-U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. yesterday determined that public health emergencies exist in Florida and Alabama as a result of Hurricane Isaias. The determinations follow President Trump's October 9 emergency declarations for both states (Florida, Alabama). The President's declarations and the Secretary's determination allow HHS to authorize temporary waivers and modifications of certain requirements. These flexibilities help the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) support healthcare providers and suppliers serving people enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in the covered emergency areas.

"Under President Trump's leadership, HHS is giving healthcare providers in Florida and Alabama the flexibility to keep caring for patients in the wake of Hurricane Isaias," said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. "We are helping them maintain essential services, respond quickly as needs change, and keep care available throughout the response and recovery.""When a storm disrupts someone's ability to get care, the need is immediate and personal," said Sean Kaufman, HHS Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR). "I want the people affected by Hurricane Isaias to know that we are here to help. Our federal teams worked alongside state and local partners to understand what communities needed and to support the healthcare services they depend on."

Prior to landfall, ASPR pre-positioned regional staff in areas at risk from the storm to monitor the impacts on public health and healthcare systems and provide technical assistance in anticipation of state requests. Healthcare System Assessment Teams also deployed to evaluate the storm's impact on healthcare facilities.

In addition, ASPR shared HHS emPOWER datasets with states in the storm's path. These data can help responders identify, by geographic area, the number of Medicare beneficiaries relying on electricity-dependent medical equipment or certain essential healthcare services, including facility-based dialysis and home healthcare.

Individuals experiencing emotional distress related to Hurricane Isaias can contact the Disaster Distress Helpline by calling or texting 1-800-985-5990. Managed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), this toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 to all residents in the U.S. and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. Callers can be connected with counselors in more than 100 languages via third-party interpretation services by indicating their preferred language to the responding counselor.

In declaring the public health emergency and authorizing flexibilities for CMS providers, suppliers, and beneficiaries, Secretary Kennedy acted within his authority under the Public Health Service Act and Social Security Act. These actions and flexibilities are retroactive to October 6, 2026, in the state of Florida and October 7, 2026, in the state of Alabama.