The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending more than $125 million to the State of Connecticut to reimburse it for the cost of purchasing and distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The $125,510,157 in Public Assistance grants will reimburse the Connecticut Department of Corrections for serving as the state Logistic and Resource Support coordinator in purchasing and distributing emergency supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Between April 2020 and July 2021, the Corrections Department purchased and distributed emergency supplies and operated distribution centers around the state in coordination with the Connecticut National Guard.
The state procured and distributed approximately 78 million PPE items including masks, face shields, respirators, gowns, gloves, and shoe coverings.
The state leased two warehouse facilities to receive and organize these PPE shipments before distribution to over 30 healthcare agencies, emergency medical services and first responders, state agencies, and other non-patient care facilities around the state. Additionally, the state contracted to purchase and warehouse a 60-day PPE stockpile in the event of a PPE supply chain disruption during a future public health emergency.
“FEMA is pleased to be able to assist the State of Connecticut with these costs,” said FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. “Reimbursing state, county, and municipal governments – as well as eligible non-profits and tribal entities – for costs incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic is an important part of our nation’s ongoing recovery.”
FEMA’s Public Assistance program is an essential source of funding for states and communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency.
So far, FEMA has provided more than $813 million in Public Assistance grants to Connecticut to reimburse the state for pandemic-related expenses.