FEMA Grants $2 Million To Providence Health System
Release Date: March 25, 2003
Release Number: R10-03-27
Seattle, WA -- FEMA, a component of the Department of Homeland Security, has announced a $2.2 million Hazard Mitigation Grant for Providence Health System, a nonprofit organization which sustained damage to their St. Peter Hospital during the 2001 Nisqually Earthquake. According to Acting Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response and Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Michael D. Brown, the grant will seismically retrofit the most critical assets of St. Peter Hospital.
"The Nisqually Earthquake impacted many citizens as well as local government and non-profit organizations providing crucial emergency services," said Brown. "With this grant, St. Peter Hospital will be able to prepare itself to better withstand any future disaster in this community."
Scott Bond, Providence St. Peter Hospital CEO/Administrator agrees. "The Northwest tower is the newer part of the hospital, but requires seismic upgrades to meet the standards for the important services housed in this section of the hospital, including critical care and the family birth center," said Bond. "The retrofit will bring these areas up to the most current seismic building codes, enhancing the safety of staff and patients." The total project costs $2,245,162 with FEMA providing $1,683,872 or 75 percent.
The funds were made available through FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) administered by the Washington Emergency Management Division (WEMD). Local jurisdictions apply for grant aid through a competitive process that demonstrates high-hazard disaster risk and provides a cost-effective mitigation project that greatly reduces or eliminates the hazard.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 25-Mar-2003 15:18:06