FEMA AWARDS STATE OF RHODE ISLAND MORE THAN $3 MILLION FOR TEMPORARY COVID HOSPITALS [https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20230510/fema-awards-state-rhode-island-more-3-million-temporary-covid-hospitals] Release Date: Juillet 1, 2022 BOSTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending more than $3 million to the State of Rhode Island to reimburse the state for the costs of setting up temporary hospital facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The $3,076,350 Public Assistance grant will go to the Rhode Island Department of Administration for contracting to set up and operate three alternative hospital sites totaling nearly 1,400 hospital beds to provide medical treatment to COVID-19 patients between July and October 2021. The three sites – the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, the former Citizens Bank Call Center in Cranston, and the former Lowe’s Home Improvement store in Quonset – cared for approximately 4,300 patients. The state contracted for security, cleaning, waste removal, utilities; transportation of equipment and furniture, and decommissioning costs. “FEMA is pleased to be able to assist the State of Rhode Island with these costs,” said FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. “Providing resources for our partners on the front lines of the pandemic fight is critical to their success, and our success as a nation.” FEMA’s Public Assistance program is an essential source of funding for states and communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency. These grants brings the total awarded by FEMA to the State of Rhode Island to almost $475 million to reimburse the state for pandemic-related expenses.