SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio -- In a prime example of regional collaboration meeting up to respond to the needs of a global pandemic, nearly $200,000 worth of personal protective equipment -- “PPE” -- will be distributed among 33 Cuyahoga County communities.
The roughly $177,500 allocation from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s “Assistance to Firefighters COVID-19 Grant Program” requires an additional 10 percent match from the participating communities that will be reimbursed to the City of Shaker Heights once council accepts the funding Monday (Aug. 24).
"As with many FEMA grant opportunities, making application in a coordinated manner through a regional partnership has a higher likelihood of being approved for federal funding," as opposed to a single agency applying, Shaker Heights Fire Chief Patrick Sweeney stated in a memo to council.
Generally, one municipality needs to act as the lead agency on the application and fiduciary agent for the group if the grant is awarded, as Shaker agreed to do, "with much assistance from the city Law Department," Sweeney noted.
The "PPE" consists of the highly-sought "N95" masks, as well as surgical masks, eye protection, shoe covers, and gowns.
"This safety equipment has been identified as essential for firefighters providing emergency medical care to residents in our communities (especially during the coronavirus health emergency)," Sweeney said.
Consolidated effort
While taking the lead role is not entirely selfless on Shaker’s part -- the city will pay a local match of $868 for 562 N95′s, over 4,500 surgical masks, 51 eye protectors, 3.369 shoe covers and 1,123 gowns, worth a total of $8,368 -- there are other cities getting considerably more:
-- Cleveland Heights, receiving over $14,000 worth of PPE -- 926 N95′s, 7,500 surgical masks, 78 eye protectors, 5,558 shoe covers, and 1,853 gowns for a local match of $1,428
-- Lakewood, over $13,800 worth of safety supplies including 889 N95′s, 7,200 surgical masks, 90 eye protectors, over 5,300 shoe protectors and 1,778 gowns, at a community cost share of $1,381
-- East Cleveland, $12,458 worth of equipment, good for over 818 N95's, 6,620 surgical masks, 46 eye protectors, almost 5,000 shoe covers and over 1,600 gowns, all for $1,245
-- Strongsville, $12,192, with a $1,219 local match to receive nearly 800 N-95 masks, 6.422 surgical masks, 61 eye protectors, 4,759 she covers, and 1,586 gowns for a local match of $1,219
-- Beachwood, $10,000 worth of safety gear, including 679 N95′s and 5,500 surgical masks, 42 eye protectors, over 4,000 shoe covers and 1,359 gowns for $1,037
But receiving the most FEMA funding far and away in this round was the City of Euclid, pulling in over $21,000 worth of PPE -- nearly 1,400 N95′s, almost 11,200 surgical masks, 79 eye protectors, close to 8,300 shoe covers and 2,759 gowns for a community cost share of $2,103.
The FEMA procurement, based loosely on population and call volume, goes right down the list of 33 municipalities to the Village of Gates Mills getting $514 worth of PPE, including 24 N95 masks and assorted gear for $51, and Woodmere ($705 in PPE, 34 N95′s, for about $70).
The ordinance was to be presented as emergency legislation to allow the fire department to purchase the PPE "as quickly as possible during the current pandemic."
With the application and Memorandum of Understanding signed by some of the individual fire chiefs and local officials back in early June, the grant also allows them to obtain additional PPE for up to six months while using federal guidelines for equipment reuse.
More individual allocations
Along with the separate 10 percent community cost shares, other individual fire department allocations from FEMA will be going to Brooklyn ($5,460); Brooklyn Heights ($1,263); Chagrin Falls ($3,345); Cuyahoga Heights ($1,150); Highland Heights ($3,264); Highland Hills ($1,438); Independence ($3,875); Lyndhurst ($5,136); Mayfield Heights ($8,179); Mayfield Village ($2,174); and Middleburg Heights ($6,415);
Newburgh Heights ($1,186); North Olmsted ($8,507); North Royalton ($6,530); Oakwood Village ($3,874); Olmsted Township ($3,923); Orange ($2,153); Pepper Pike ($2,360); Richmond Heights ($4,133); Rocky River ($6,066); Seven Hills ($2,477); Solon ($6,502); University Heights ($4,610); and Warrensville Heights ($6,604).
At Shaker council's Aug. 7 Safety and Public Works Committee on Aug. 7, Councilman Sean Malone "wanted to make sure that this grant would not place undue administrative responsibilities on the city."
In addition to the considerable help already provided by the Law Department, Sweeney said that future administrative duties will be minimal and managed mostly by the Shaker Heights Fire Department.
The FEMA grant was then presented to the City Finance Committee on Aug. 17, where citizen member Linda Lalley asked what would happen if another community was unable to provide the 10 percent local match to reimburse Shaker.
"If a city was unable to meet its financial match obligations, the equipment that was secured for that department would be made available to other communities willing to pay their required match," the Aug. 24 council memo stated.
For a more complete individual breakdown of the community funding allocations by FEMA; please visit https://www.shakeronline.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/2702?fileID=5486 and scroll down.
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