(WWJ) FEMA is giving the State of Michigan more than $124 million in funding to cope with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Michigan will receive $124,604,816; according to their press release. It will mostly be used to buy masks, gloves, gowns; and appropriate medical equipment. FEMA officials say the money will also go toward decontaminating medical supplies across the state.
“This funding will help ensure our frontline workers have the resources they need to stay safe while they work to protect Michigan residents from COVID-19,” Captain Kevin Sweeney, Deputy State Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, said in the release. “We appreciate our partnership with FEMA while we work to slow the spread of the coronavirus.”
FEMA and the State of Michigan have been working closely together throughout the pandemic. On April 21; Governor Whitmer announced FEMA awarded the state one of two federal grants to address the mental health needs of Michiganders amid the crisis.
The two grants—the other provided by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration—totaled $2.5 million combined.
On April 17; Governor Whitmer wrote a letter to FEMA Administrator, Peter T. Gaynor, asking the agency to waive the cost-sharing requirements for emergency work. Under the Public Assistance Program; FEMA pays 75% while state, local, and tribal governments cover the rest.
Whitmer wrote in her letter: “FEMA is authorized to increase the federal cost-share to 100% for emergency work, including Direct Federal Assistance, ‘if warranted by the needs of a disaster.’”
Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters backed the Governor’s request. In a follow-up letter signed by both Peters and Stabenow, they wrote: “We urge you to swiftly accept the Governor’s request to increase the federal cost-share to 100%, so the residents and business owners in these communities can have the resources they need to address this pandemic.”
No word if FEMA has responded to Governor Whitmer's request.