REGION I –Massachusetts will receive $4,336,272 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for expenses incurred by the Berkshire Medical Center for the work done during the COVID pandemic. These funds were awarded to address the immediate threat to life and public safety for the period of March 7 to May 31, 2020.
FEMA is supporting the Commonwealth by providing reimbursement for costs associated with emergency protective measures and services. Berkshire Medical Center costs incurred include labor, materials, and contract services in the performance of testing, diagnosis, transport, prescriptions, wraparound services, and treatment of over 500 COVID-19 positive and presumptive COVID-19 cases and thousands of tests within its facilities.
Also funded with this grant are contract labor contracts that were activated, expenses for seasonal employees outside their normal season of work and costs for a COVID-19 specific call center. The Berkshire Medical Center activated its command center to coordinate emergency medical operations, train and support essential workers, and disseminate information to the public
“In partnership with the Commonwealth, FEMA supports these activities that served the residents who were in need and the services that were performed expeditiously and efficiently,” said Acting Regional Administrator and Federal Coordinating Officer Paul Ford, who oversees FEMA’s operations in Massachusetts.
This project is funded through FEMA’s Public Assistance Grant Program which reimburses eligible applicants for actions taken in the immediate response and during recovery from a major disaster. Eligible applicants include states, federally recognized tribal governments, U.S. territories, local governments, and certain private non-profit organizations. Project applications are submitted from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), which coordinates the process with eligible applicants.
FEMA awarded funding for this project directly to MEMA, who works directly with the applicant to ensure all terms and conditions of the award are met prior to disbursing the funding.
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