FEMA Approves more than $43 million to Support Recovery in Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska

KANSAS CITY- FEMA recently approved more than $43 million in funding to support recovery in Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska. This includes more than $25 million to reimburse for costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and more than $18 million for recovery work related to past natural disasters. This regional funding is part of FEMA's announcement of $5.6 billion in federal assistance to states, Tribal Nations and territories for COVID-19 and disaster recovery.

FEMA conducts a review process for all recovery grants that includes verifying compliance with program eligibility rules, ensuring proper documentation of expenses and confirming that claimed activities are consistent with program eligibility criteria to ensure taxpayer dollars are used appropriately.

In alignment with President Trump's executive order establishing the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, FEMA conducted thorough reviews of claimed costs to identify duplication of benefits, specifically with patient care revenue. These actions help ensure that the COVID-19 Public Assistance funds being obligated are consistent with the executive order's focus on preventing fraud, waste and abuse. Based on these reviews, FEMA is confident that the costs being reimbursed are eligible and not fraudulent.

Some FEMA Public Assistance grants recently approved to Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska include:

• More than $8.8 million to Regional West Health Services in Nebraska for emergency protective measures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• More than $8 million to Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa for emergency protective measures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• More than $6.4 million to Mercy Health Springfield Communities in Missouri for management costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• More than $5.9 million to Omaha Public Works in Nebraska for debris removal operations.
• More than $3.8 million to the City of Cherokee, Iowa to repair damage to the Beech Street lift station.

FEMA will continue to review additional projects and obligate funds on a rolling basis as eligibility is confirmed and scopes of work are finalized.

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