FEMA Awards Over $1 Million to the Rhode Island Department of Health for COVID-19 Response

REGION 1 – The state of Rhode Island received a grant totaling over $1 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), awarded to help with expenses associated with COVID-19 response efforts. Since January of 2020, COVID-19 created an immediate threat to the health and safety of the public requiring emergency response and protective measures. 

The grant of $1,220,988 is given to the Rhode Island Department of Health to reimburse expenses at the onset of the pandemic.  FEMA obligates this funding for the period of March 29, 2020 through June 30, 2020. 

Expenses covered through this grant include-costs incurred for providing laboratory and statewide reporting for Rhode Islanders who received COVID-19 tests, and the dissemination of educational resources for testing in multiple languages. The Department of Health also provided epidemiology and operations support to the emergency operation center, and statewide reporting of data On COVID related cases. 

The funding is awarded at 100% federal cost share through FEMA’s Public Assistance Grant Program which reimburses communities for actions taken in the immediate response and recovery activities during a disaster.  

“The Rhode Island Department of Health responded to residents’ needs for testing; FEMA is pleased to help manage financial demands for these efforts,” said Acting Regional Administrator and Federal Coordinating Officer Paul Ford, who oversees FEMA’s operations in New England.  “We will continue to work closely with the state as the pandemic continues.” 

Additional information about FEMA’s Public Assistance program is found at: https://www.fema.gov/pubic-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit