REGION 1 – FEMA approved $4,131,524 for the State of Vermont to help the Vermont Agency of Human Services defray the costs of preparing for and responding to COVID-19 under FEMA’s Public Assistance Program.
Funding is authorized under Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. During the incident period, COVID-19 created an immediate threat to the health and safety of the general public requiring emergency response and protective measures. In response to the event, the state agency utilized contracts to execute the emergency sheltering as a protective measure to provide sheltering to A) the High-Risk population of Vermont, B) non-congregate housing sheltering for Covid-19.
“FEMA’s Public Assistance grant program is essential to helping communities recovering from a federally declared disaster get back on their feet,” said Regional Administrator and Federal Coordinating Officer Captain Russ Webster, who oversees FEMA’s operations in Vermont. Vermont Emergency Management works with FEMA during all phases of the PA program and conducts final reviews of FEMA-approved projects.
“This funding is just one of the positive results of the partnership between FEMA and the State of Vermont through Vermont Emergency Management,” concluded Webster.
FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides grant funding to state and local governments, and certain types of private non-profit organizations, so that communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies.
FEMA awarded funding for this project directly to the State of Vermont and it is the state’s responsibility to work with the applicant to ensure all terms and conditions of the award are met and disburse funding.
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FEMA’s mission: Helping people before, during, and after disasters.