Statewide Iowa — The State of Iowa is getting some federal help to deal with the COVID-19 Pandemic crisis.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced that they have obligated more than $44 million to the State of Iowa for eligible work in the COVID-19 response. These funds were obligated under the major disaster declaration approved March 23rd.
Funding of approximately $44 million (75 percent federal share of total project cost of approximately $59 million) was obligated to assist the state in its purchases in March and April of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as isolation gowns, masks, face shields, safety glasses and gloves, thermometers, disinfecting wipes, sanitizer, respirators, and ventilators to assist hospitals, medical clinics, city and county governments, and certain private-non-profits across the state.
The declaration authorized Emergency Protective Measures (Category B) not authorized under other Federal statutes, including direct federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program at 75 percent federal funding for all areas in the State of Iowa. Funds are obligated to Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department (HSEMD).
Paul Taylor, Administrator of FEMA Region VII says that he wants to commend Iowa emergency management officials for the thoroughness of their project justification, and the speed in which they were able to get it submitted. He says, “The entire federal family is working day and night to assist state, local and tribal partners in our shared work to combat the effects of COVID-19.”
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