The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded just over $1.2 million in Public Assistance (PA) grants to the Bergen County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to aid in the county’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sens. Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, along with Reps. Bill Pascrell and Josh Gottheimer, announced the funding, which boosted overall funding secured for Bergen County OEM to $3.5 million.
“This important federal funding will help ensure the county’s first responders and public health officials have the resources they need to continue fighting the virus and protecting the health and safety of county residents,” said Sen. Menendez.
Expanding on Prior Efforts
To date, New Jersey has secured over $159 million in PA grants to assist in its COVID-19 response. The funding was drawn from the $45 billion allocated to the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund under the CARES Act.
“Through all these efforts, we are clawing resources back here to North Jersey, the eye of the COVID-19 storm, standing by our local communities, and helping combat this crisis and fully recover,” said Rep. Gottheimer.
The lawmakers previously announced seven PA grant awards totaling $155 million to the New Jersey State Police and $2.3 million to the Bergen County Office of Emergency Management.
A Call to Remain Vigilant
Although the lawmakers celebrated the grants, they all called on the public to remain vigilant in the fight against the virus. Rep. Pascrell said “the threat of COVID-19 continues to loom over New Jersey,” but argued the state could win the fight together.
Sen. Booker said the funding would protect New Jersey going forward.
“As we look to the next phase of this crisis, it’s imperative that New Jersey communities have the resources needed to continue protecting our residents. I stand committed to fighting for federal funding like this that our state needs to protect the health and safety of all New Jerseyans,” he said.
