DHS Requests FEMA Help For Hospitals

Federal support is being requested for Wisconsin hospitals inundated with COVID-19 patients.

With barely over 56 percent of the state fully vaccinated for COVID-19, hospitals are critically short of beds, and are also contending with staffing shortages.

Health Services Secretary designee Karen Timberlake says they’re requesting support teams from FEMA.

“At the moment we’re looking at regional FEMA teams, as many as five.”

Timblerlake says that could put up to 100 additional people into Wisconsin hospitals.

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“The real strategy here is to use those staff strategically to free up capacity in our ICUs.”

Timberlake says other states are also requesting assistance from FEMA.