Resource Update: January 25, 2021

photo: morguefile.com

10 Ready-Made Tips You Can Use to Prepare for Disaster

FEMA Region II National Preparedness Division in partnership with Region IV Individual and Community Preparedness is offering a webinar on how you can resolve to be ready in 10 steps. 

Learn how to become more confident and less anxious in a disaster. During this webinar, you will learn to effectively develop an individual emergency preparedness plan to ready yourself and your family, learn what notifications you need, what emergency supplies to have, how to develop a family communications plan and prepare for the unique needs of your household, and more. 

To register, click here: Prepare for Disaster

Prepare for Tax Season: Tips to File Taxes, Avoid Scams and Stop Identity Theft 

FEMA Region II National Preparedness Division for a webinar on preparing for the 2021 tax filing season.

Guest speakers from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will discuss important tips for filing taxes this year as well as how to identify and avoid common scams during tax season, such as tax identity theft and calls from government imposters. 

To register, click here:

File Taxes, Avoid Scams and Stop Identify Theft (English)

Thursday, February 4, 2021 from 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm ET (English)

File Taxes, Avoid Scams and Stop Identify Theft (Spanish)

Tuesday, February 9, 2021 from 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm ET (Spanish)

Be COVID Prepared: A Toolkit for Institutes of Higher Education

This webinar provides information will help students, student-serving organizations, and anyone who may have a loved one away at college learn to “Be COVID Prepared” by walking you through a toolkit which provides important information and an isolation/quarantine plan template so that you can be better prepared should you be exposed to COVID-19.

To register, click here: Be COVID Prepared at College

PA Expands COVID-19 Vaccination Eligibility to Approximately 3.5 million Pennsylvanians

Pennsylvania is still in Phase 1A of our four phase vaccine distribution plan. This week two new categories were added to the plan for residents who can get a vaccine in this first phase.

Pennsylvanians meeting at least one of the criteria below can get a COVID-19 vaccine.

  1. Work in healthcare
  2. Live in a long-term care facility
  3. NEW in Phase 1A Residents 65 years and older
  4. NEW in Phase 1A Residents 16 to 64 years old with underlying medical conditions that put you at risk for serious, life-threatening complications from COVID-19 (reference the list of high-risk conditions) 

For full details on eligibility during the different phases of Pennsylvania’s rollout plan, please visit the PA Department of Health's COVID-19 Vaccines webpage

SBA and Treasury Announce PPP Re-Opening; Issue New Guidance

The US Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, re-opened the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan portal to all participating PPP lenders. PPP provides loans to help businesses keep their workforce employed during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.

In accordance with the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Non-Profits, and Venues Act, this round of the PPP continues to prioritize job retention and certain other expenses through Mar. 31, 2021, and by allowing certain existing PPP borrowers to apply for a Second Draw PPP Loan.

Additional details can be found by visiting the US SBA Second Draw PPP Loans website 

Wolf Administration Announces $600 Pandemic Relief Awards to Eligible Child Care Employees

The governor has announced the opportunity for one-time, $600 grants are available to child care providers licensed by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) through federal Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Eligible child care employees include those who:

  1. Are employed by a licensed child care provider as of 1/1/21;
  2. Earn less than or equal to gross salary of $70,000, annually; and,
  3. Work a minimum of 20 hours per week at a licensed child care provider.

All applications must be sent to the provider’s ELRC and received by February 12, 2021. The COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Award will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

For additional information and applications, click here: Pandemic Relief Awards to Child Care Employees


Doug Hoy
Disaster Response Coordinator
drc@susumc.org 717-766-7441 ext. 3402

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