BOTHELL, Wash. – FEMA recently approved more than $541 million in funding to support recovery in Washington. This includes $538 million to reimburse for costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and $3.7 million for recovery work related to past natural disasters. This 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 Washington include:
- $262 million to Washington State Department of Health for materials, rented equipment and contracts to help reduce or eliminate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
- $120 million to King County for materials, rented equipment and contracts to help reduce or eliminate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
- $72 million to Franciscan Health System for materials, rented equipment and contracts to help reduce or eliminate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
- $37 million to Multicare Health System for materials, rented equipment and contracts to help reduce or eliminate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
One additional project is funded through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which empowers states, local governments, tribal nations and territories to complete activities and projects that prevent, eliminate or reduce disaster-related damage:
- $3.5 million to Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District to acquire and demolish five residential structures located within the Special Flood Hazard Area in Everson, Lynden, Ferndale and Bellingham.
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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