ALBANY, N.Y. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been covering 75% of eligible state costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic -- but will soon cover 100%, according to U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer.
The funding comes from a FEMA disaster relief fund established after President Donald Trump declared a national disaster in March of 2020. As part of this funding agreement, the state has been responsible for 25% of the cost.
Schumer says after speaking with President-elect Joe Biden, New York will get roughly $2 billion more to cover 100% of the costs during the incoming administration.
“For New York, the costs have been huge and will take years to overcome entirely, but achieving my goal of 100% FEMA cost share to New York will mean a sigh of relief for all New Yorkers because these critical dollars will help protect essential services and workers while we deal with badly burdened budgets that have been gut-punched by COVID,” said Schumer. “I am glad we could get this done even before the president-elect is sworn in because it shows how we will be hitting the ground running come Jan. 20.”
Schumer says some of the covered costs include money for masks, extra nurses and doctors and temporary hospitals.
