BOSTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending almost $13.4 million to the State of Rhode Island to reimburse the state health department for the costs of its efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The $13,356,528 FEMA Public Assistance grant will go to the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) for establishing and operating a temporary Case Investigation Center (CIC).
The department contracted to hire CIC staff including nurses, case investigators, epidemiologists, and consultant physicians; and paid for the costs of operating the center from October 2020 through December 2021.
RIDOH also contracted for professional services to assist in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of COVID-19 response operations and with capacity building and resources support; the development of educational and communications materials; and telephonic language interpreting services to allow for equitable communication with all members of the community.
“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 more than $560 million to reimburse the state for pandemic-related expenses.