REGION I –Rhode Island will receive $11,930,317 from the FEMA for costs incurred by Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) for supplies and materials through September 30 due to COVID-19.
The grant is awarded to reimburse the state for costs of activating all necessary state emergency response plans, policies, contracts and agreements to create and establish mobile support units, and to activate and deploy disaster response teams and provide personal protective equipment (PPE) and supplies for the State of Rhode Island’s mobile COVID-19 testing sites.
The supplies and equipment include cleaning supplies, gloves, laboratory equipment, laboratory supplies, portable ventilators and fans for remote testing sites, reference materials, storage, testing equipment, testing and laboratory supplies as well as COVID-19 printed information distributed to residents.
Funded through FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) Grant program, the grant pays a cost share to communities for actions taken in the immediate response and during recovery from a disaster. Eligible applicants include states, federally recognized tribal governments, U.S. territories, local governments, and certain private non-profit organizations. The grant applications are submitted from the state, which coordinates the process with local governments.
“This funding reimburses the State for actions taken and supplies purchased that saved Rhode Islanders and protected health care front line workers during COVID-19,” said Regional Administrator and Federal Coordinating Officer Captain Russ Webster, who oversees FEMA’s operations in Rhode Island.
This funding is just one positive result of the partnership between FEMA and the State of Rhode Island through Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency. The agencies work together during all phases of the PA program and conducts final reviews of FEMA-approved projects.
FEMA obligates funding for this project directly to the state of Rhode Island.
Additional information about FEMA’s Public Assistance program can be found at https://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit.
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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters