FEMA: PR 146 MS FIRE DEPARTMENTS RECEIVE $137,000

Here's our first press release from FEMA/verbatim
MISSISSIPPI FIRE DEPARTMENTS RECEIVE MORE THAN $137,000 IN FUNDING THROUGH FEMA'S ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT PROGRAM
 
ATLANTA – Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded $137,588 in Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) to local fire departments and emergency medical services organizations in the state of Mississippi. Nationally, the fiscal year (FY) 2007 AFG awards, which will be distributed in phases, will ultimately provide over $490 million to fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations throughout the country.

This week's round of FY 2007 fire grants are being awarded to 179 fire departments and organizations nationwide, with an additional 31 awards being distributed from the FY 2006 funding.
 
"Since 2001, President Bush and Congress have made an investment of over $3 billion dollars so that thousands of fire departments can be prepared for all emergencies in their communities," said U.S Fire Administrator Greg Cade.  "September is National Preparedness Month, and I would like to encourage all residents of this nation to join with their firefighters in preparing their families and businesses for all hazards, great and small.  I invite this nation to join with the fire service and have a 72 hour preparedness plan.  For more information visit [url=http://www.ready.gov]http://www.ready.gov[/url] or [url=http://www.fema.dhs.gov]http://www.fema.dhs.gov[/url] ."
 
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program includes grants to the fire departments and emergency medical services organizations in Mississippi for:
 
FY 2007 AFG Awards
Belden Fire Department

Operations and Safety

$58,900

Belden

Richland Fire Department

Operations and Safety

$29,084

Richland


 
FY 2006 AFG Awards
West Hancock Volunteer Fire Dept.

Operations and Safety

$49,604

Pearlington



 
AFG awards aim to enhance response capabilities and to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public with respect to fire and other hazards.  The grants enable local fire departments and emergency medical services organizations to purchase or receive training, conduct first responder health and safety programs, and buy equipment and response vehicles.  AFG also supports regional projects in which multiple organizations serving more than one local jurisdiction benefit directly from activities implemented with grant funds.

Since FY 2001, and including FY 2007, over $3.3 billion in AFG funding has been distributed to fire departments and first responder organizations to purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment, vehicles and fire prevention activities.  AFG is administered cooperatively by two FEMA components:  the National Preparedness Directorate and the United States Fire Administration. 

The full list of FY 2007 AFG recipients and other information is posted on the AFG website ( [url=http://www.firegrantsupport.com]http://www.firegrantsupport.com[/url] ).
 
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

(See Attached Fact Sheet)
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FY 2007 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG)         
 
Overview
The Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program is an important component of the Administration's larger, coordinated effort to strengthen the Nation's overall level of preparedness and ability to respond to fire and fire-related hazards.  Since 2001, and including Fiscal Year (FY) 2007, over $3.3 billion in AFG funds have been distributed to first-responder organizations to purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment, and vehicles. AFG is a highly competitive program.  FEMA received more than 20,000 applications requesting over $3 billion in funding under the FY 2007 AFG.
 
Purpose
The purpose of the FY 2007 AFG is to award grants directly to fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service (EMS) organizations.  These awards aim to enhance first responders' ability to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as that of first-responder personnel, with respect to fire-related hazards.  Using a competitive process overseen by fire service subject matter experts, AFG awards grants to applicants whose requests best address the priorities of the AFG program. 
 
Funding
The FY 2007 AFG will provide over $490 million in competitive grants to fire departments and nonaffiliated EMS organizations. 
 
Eligibility
Eligible AFG applicants are limited to fire departments and nonaffiliated EMS organizations operating in any of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and Puerto Rico.
 
A "fire department" is defined as an agency or organization that has a formally recognized arrangement with a state, territory, local or tribal authority (city, county, parish, fire district, township, town, or other governing body) to provide fire suppression to a population within a fixed geographical area on a first-due basis.
 
A "nonaffiliated EMS organization" is defined as a public or private nonprofit emergency medical services organization that provides direct emergency medical services, including medical transport, to a specific geographic area on a first-due basis, but which is not affiliated with a hospital and does not serve a geographic area where emergency medical services are adequately provided by a fire department.
           
Program Highlights
Eligible AFG activities are detailed below according to the type of eligible entity:
 
            Fire Departments:
§         Training
§         Firefighting Equipment
§         Personal Protective Equipment
§         Wellness and Fitness
§         Health and Safety Modifications to Stations and Facilities
§         Firefighting Vehicles
 
Emergency Medical Services Organizations:
§         Training
§         EMS Equipment
§         Personal Protective Equipment
§         Wellness and Fitness
§         Health and Safety Modifications to Stations and Facilities
§         EMS/Rescue Vehicles
 
Funding for vehicles (fire or EMS) is limited to 25 percent of available funds.  No less than 3.5 percent of available funds must be spent on EMS training, equipment, and vehicles.  However, awards to nonaffiliated EMS organizations are limited to 2 percent of funds available.  No less than 22 percent of AFG funds must be awarded to fire departments that have all-volunteer firefighting personnel, and no less than 33 percent of AFG funds must be awarded to fire departments that have combined forces of volunteer and career firefighting personnel. 
 
Evaluation Criteria
Funding priorities and criteria for evaluating AFG applications are established from recommendations provided by a criteria development panel that is composed of fire service professionals representing the nine major fire service organizations.  Funding priorities for the FY 2007 AFG included:  achieving national baseline capabilities; risk-based funding; and communications and equipment interoperability. 
 
Applications are ranked based on the substance of the application relative to the established funding priorities for the type of community served.  Highest scoring applications are determined to be in a "competitive range" and undergo further evaluation by a panel of peers – that is members of the fire service.  Applications requesting CBRNE-related equipment or training or interoperable communications equipment also are reviewed by a designated state homeland security official to ensure requests are consistent with the State Homeland Security Strategy and interoperable communications plan and do not duplicate assistance provided through the state.

 
On-line Posting
The list of FY 2007 AFG recipients and other information is posted on the AFG website ( [url=http://www.firegrantsupport.com]http://www.firegrantsupport.com[/url] ).
 
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