WASHINGTON -- FEMA announced today that President Joseph R. Biden Jr, made additional disaster assistance available for the territories of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The President authorized an increase in the level of federal funding for the Other Needs Assistance - Lost Wages Assistance program that was authorized as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic beginning on Jan. 20, 2020 and continuing.
On March 27, 2020, the territory of Guam received a major disaster declaration to help people and communities recover from COVID-19.
On April 1, 2020, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands received a major disaster declaration also triggering the release of federal funds to help communities recover from COVID-19.
Federal funding was originally available to each territory at 75% of the total eligible costs. These changes are a result of the “Small and Less Populous Island Economies Initiative " released by the White House Monday.
Under the President's order, the non-federal cost share for Lost Wages Assistance has been waived.
Source: Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency
