FEMA to reimburse Department of Health nearly $13.5M for pandemic-related expenses

BOSTON (WLNE) — Rhode Island will be receiving millions of dollars for staffing costs during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be giving the state almost $13.5 million to reimburse the Department of Health for the costs of contracting for public health and epidemiology workers.

“Providing resources for our partners on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic fight is critical to their success, and to our success as a nation,” said Lori Ehrlich, FEMA Region 1 regional administrator.

The Public Assistance grant brings the total awarded by FEMA to Rhode Island to about $632 million to reimburse the state for pandemic-related expenses.