FEMA Approves More Than $5.4 Billion in Recovery Funding

Today, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced more than $5.4 billion to reimburse states, local governments and health facilities for their costs to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Today, FEMA has obligated $5.4 billion in additional funds to support 458 projects across the country to close out outstanding COVID-19 reimbursements," said Secretary Mullin. "As we continue to approve projects, we remain focused on rigorous review to ensure taxpayer dollars are used appropriately and reimbursements are awarded in a fiscally responsible manner. FEMA's recovery of $8 billion in excess funds last fiscal year set a new standard for fiscal responsibility and allowed us to re-channel resources to high-priority operations."

The funds will be distributed through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Public Assistance program to support 458 projects across the country. Four additional projects are funded through FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

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 examples of the approved COVID-19 Public Assistance projects are:

• More than $187 million to Miami Dade County for materials, rented equipment and contracts to help reduce or eliminate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
• Nearly $105 million to Dignity Community Care in Arizona to reimburse contract services for emergency and inpatient clinical care, response, diagnosis, containment and treatment for COVID-19 patients.
• More than $93 million to the Tennessee Department of Military for materials, rental equipment and contracts to implement emergency protective measures to reduce or eliminate the spread of the virus.
• More than $88 million to Prisma Health in South Carolina for contracted medical staff for emergency medical care treatment in hospitals and clinics across the state in response to the pandemic.
• More than $10 million to the University of Texas Medical Branch for expenses to provide direct patient medical care and treatment of individuals in their five hospital locations.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, every state, territory and the District of Columbia received a major disaster declaration. Under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, hazard mitigation is available for all eligible mitigation activities that reduce risk to people and property from future disasters. Examples of these post-disaster projects awarded through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program include:

• Nearly $18.68 million to the city of Southgate, Michigan to address repeated flooding events and protect hundreds of homes. The city's storm sewers will be upgraded to redirect future stormwater.
• More than $7.32 million for a stormwater management and detention/retention basin in Douglas County, Nevada. This flood mitigation proposal is to safely collect and help route floodwater run-off into basins and away from local communities experiencing flooding.

FEMA remains focused on closing out pending COVID-19 projects as the recovery phase for this disaster has continued far beyond the agency's timeline. While delays over the past six years have caused setbacks, this unprecedented disaster continues to outpace other disasters of similar size and scope. FEMA will continue to work with Public Assistance applicants to ensure proper documentation of COVID-19 expenses and confirm that claimed activities are consistent with program eligibility criteria.