WASHINGTON — The whole-of-America response to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic continues, as FEMA's Region 5 Administrator visited a Battelle decontamination system site and emergency managers in Columbus, Ohio. Meanwhile, members of Boston’s FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association donated hand sanitizer and masks to various organizations throughout the New England area.
FEMA continues to expedite movement of commercially pre-sourced and commercially procured critical supplies from the global market to medical distributors in various locations across the U.S. through Project Airbridge.
As of April 22, Project Airbridge has completed 74 flights with an additional 40 scheduled or in transit. Three flights landed Wednesday, two in Chicago and one in New York City. Four flights are scheduled to land today: three in Chicago and one in Los Angeles.
Through Project Airbridge, the following supplies have been delivered from overseas manufacturers to the U.S. and into private sector supply chains from March 29 to April 22:
- More than 768,000 N-95 masks.
- More than 670 million gloves.
- More than 61 million surgical masks.
- More than 7.4 million surgical gowns.
- Nearly 2.1 million thermometers.
- More than 562,000 face shields.
To date, FEMA has obligated $5.8 billion in support of COVID-19 efforts.
FEMA Region 5 Administrator Visits Columbus Battelle Site
COLUMBUS, Ohio (April 22, 2020) — FEMA Region 5 Administrator James K. Joseph (left), speaks with Battelle’s William Wichter during a tour of Critical Care Decontamination System’s Columbus site. The Battelle system can decontaminate tens of thousands of N-95 masks for reuse each day.
FEMA photo by Alexis Hall
Battelle Lands in Baltimore to Aid Fight Against COVID-19
BALTIMORE (April 22, 2020) — Staff begin prepping for full operation as the Battelle Critical Care Decontamination System’s Baltimore location breaks ground. Once fully completed, Battelle will begin N-95 respirator mask decontamination services for healthcare providers in the region. FEMA, HHS, and Battelle continue their efforts to help protect workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the nation.
FEMA photo by Lameen Witter
FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association Donates Hand Sanitizer, Masks
CHELSEA, Mass. (April 22, 2020) — Members of the FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association, Boston Chapter, donate hand sanitizer and masks to a number of organizations, including the Bedford VA Medical Center, Chelsea Collaborative, Soldiers’ Home in Chelsea, Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program and various women’s shelters across New England recently.
Photo courtesy of the Boston Federal Executive Board
FEMA Region 5 Administrator Speaks to Ohio Emergency Managers
COLUMBUS, Ohio (April 21, 2020) — FEMA Region 5 Administrator James K. Joseph speaks to Ohio Emergency Management Agency staff and other public health liaisons at the Emergency Operations Center.
FEMA photo by Alexis Hall
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