FEMA provides $7.6 million more to Utah in COVID-19 response funding

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided $7.6 million in additional funding for COVID-19 response efforts in Utah. To date, FEMA has provided more than $54.8 million in public assistance funding for the COVID-19 response efforts in Utah. The assistance was made available under a major disaster declaration issued April 4, 2020.

The $7.6 million was provided to the Utah Department of Health for emergency protective measures related to the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies from July 2 through Sept. 23, 2020. Funding for this project is authorized under Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Act.

FEMA’s Public Assistance Program provides funding for emergency actions undertaken by communities to protect public safety, providing at least a 75 percent funding share for eligible costs. Remaining costs are the responsibility of the state and local applicants for assistance.

For the COVID-19 response, FEMA said it has simplified the public assistance application and funding process to address the magnitude of this event and to allow local officials to receive eligible funding more quickly. These reimbursements can play a critical role as state, local and tribal officials work tirelessly to assist their communities during this response, the agency said.