Release Date: November 2, 2007
Release Number: R10-08-008
SALEM, Ore. -- Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded $95,475 in an Assistance-to-Firefighters Grant (AFG) to the Echo Rural Fire Protection District in Oregon, for that department's operations and safety initiatives.
"The AFG program is an important part of FEMA's larger, coordinated effort to strengthen homeland security preparedness, including the security of America's critical infrastructure, and the people living in our rural communities," says Susan Reinertson, FEMA regional administrator for Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. "As a part of that goal, the AFG grant Program is designed to enhance response capabilities and to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public, with respect to fire and other hazards."
AFG 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. AFG is administered cooperatively by two FEMA components: the National Preparedness Directorate and the United States Fire Administration.
At the end of the 2007 fiscal year (FY 2007), FEMA's AFG awards will ultimately have provided over $490 million to fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations throughout the United States and territories. 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.
The full list of FY 2007 AFG recipients and other information is posted on the AFG website (www.firegrantsupport.com).
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.
Last Modified: Friday, 02-Nov-2007 08:43:29