Utah's share of FEMA COVID-19 disaster funds now tops $45 million

The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) has sent more than $45 million to Utah in public assistance funding for the COVID-19 response. The assistance was made possible following the the major disaster declaration issued in April by the Trump administration.

The funding breaks down as follows:

• $43.8 million in federal funding to the Utah Department of Health for emergency protective measures for the purchase and distribution of personal protective equipment and medical supplies, and the leasing of a storage and distribution warehouse through June 30.

• $1.25 million in expedited funding to the Utah Department of Health for emergency protective measures to lease and stage the Mountain America Exposition Center, which was utilized as an alternate care site.

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 simplified the public assistance application and funding process to address the magnitude of the COVID-19 event and to allow local officials to receive eligible funding more quickly.

Additional support for Utah has come in the form of mission assignments, in which FEMA has directed other federal agencies, such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to perform work to address needs identified by the state. The federal share for these mission assignments to date is $18,774,906.