The COVID-19 pandemic has been a legal first in many ways for the federal government. One of those firsts is using the Stafford Act during a pandemic. The Stafford Act is the primary statutory framework through which the federal government provides aid to states and localities when natural disasters overwhelm local capacity to respond. However, a big question is how does the Stafford Act apply during a pandemic? Do pandemics count as a natural disaster? Can the president declare a “national emergency” without prior request from the affected states? Professor Lisa Grow Sun explores the unique and historic ways the Stafford Act has been used during the COVID-19 pandemic in this No. 86 video. https://youtube.com/watch?v=GQf8hxZpmUA