REGION 1 – FEMA obligated $1,093,666 to reimburse the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) for the cost of COVID-19 testing sites set up for essential personnel as part of its emergency response.
With temporary tents, equipment and additional resources, MEMA supported daily coronavirus screenings of first responders, public health workers and others. Additionally, the grant was for a testing site open to the public in Lowell, a decontamination tent for personnel in Middleton and a mobile emergency operations center in Springfield. Testing was first offered March 27, 2020 as a much-needed resource toward the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and operated until Nov. 19, 2020.
“These testing sites protected the health of many who helped the public in Massachusetts,” said Acting Regional Administrator and Federal Coordinating Officer Paul Ford, who oversees FEMA’s operations in New England. “MEMA continues to be an all-important partner with us in the fight against COVID-19.”
This project is funded through FEMA’s Public Assistance Program that reimburses eligible applicants for actions taken in the immediate response and during recovery from a major disaster. Eligible applicants include the state, federally recognized tribal governments, local governments, and certain private non-profit organizations. Project applications are submitted from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), which coordinates the process with eligible applicants.
FEMA awarded funding for this project directly to MEMA who works directly with the applicant to ensure all terms and conditions of the award are met before funding is disbursed.
FEMA obligated more than $2 billion related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts, as of May 6.
Additional information about FEMA’s PA Program is at https://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit.
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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters