AUSTIN The Texas Division of Emergency Management issued a statement on Friday morning that encourages local jurisdictions to submit applications for federal COVID-19 funding.
The deadline imposed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency is one week away.
The federal deadline for entities to submit a COVID-19 Request for Public Assistance is July 1, 2022.
To date, only 46 out of the state’s 254 counties (18%) and 115 of the more than 1,200 municipalities (9%) have initiated COVID-19 Public Assistance project applications. Nearly 90% of Texas jurisdictions have not actively sought COVID-19 funding reimbursement from FEMA.
“Eligible jurisdictions are encouraged to take advantage of this reimbursement opportunity before the clock runs out,” Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd stated in the press release. “TDEM reminds our local partners to ensure qualifying expenses are eligible for reimbursement by taking the important initial step to submit a Request for Public Assistance to the state by the federal deadline.”
FEMA will cover eligible COVID-19 expenses such as testing, vaccinations, therapeutics, medical equipment, staffing, and other COVID medical expenses.
“We recognize the COVID-19 pandemic has brought many challenges for communities over the past couple of years,” FEMA Regional Administrator Tony Robinson stated in the press release. “FEMA is able to pay 100% of costs related to COVID-19 until July 1. This can make a substantial difference for impacted communities and their ability to recover quicker from the pandemic. We encourage jurisdictions to work through our partners at TDEM to submit their RPAs by July 1, in order to fully benefit from this federal funding opportunity.”
Additionally, starting July 2, 2022, the federal government will no longer fund 100% of eligible costs. FEMA will fund 90% of eligible costs with state and local entities responsible for the remaining 10%.
“Entities that do not have a Request for Public Assistance submitted to TDEM by July 1 cannot apply for any FEMA COVID-19 funding,” TDEM Deputy Chief Suzannah Jones stated in the press release. “Local jurisdictions across Texas are encouraged to apply for this federal funding opportunity.”
Further, FEMA reimburses overtime costs for first responders and other government employees dedicated to COVID-19 response and recovery efforts over the last two years.
Questions from local jurisdictions about the RPA process may be directed to regional TDEM field staff, who are available to assist in ensuring local entities maximize the use of all available federal COVID-19 funding.
This funding opportunity is for qualifying jurisdictions, and not available for individual Texans or households.
