Round Twenty-Four Of The Assistance To Firefighters Grants To Aid America's Fire Departments Announced By FEMA
South Carolina Receives $725,637 To Assist Local Fire Departments In Latest Round Of Grants
Release Date: November 28, 2003
Release Number: R4-03-261
ATLANTA, Ga. -- Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, announced 635 grants to fire departments throughout the U.S. in the twenty-fourth round of the 2003 Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. This is the largest number of grants announced at one time in the 2003 AFG program, and totals $71.6 million for this week alone. The grants will ultimately total approximately 7,000 awards worth $750 million in direct assistance to firefighters.
Included in the announcement of this latest round were awards for seven communities in South Carolina.
"President Bush, Secretary Ridge and I recognize that the training and equipment provided to our first responders through the fire grants is critical in securing our homeland because these brave men and women are our first line of defense against all hazards," said Brown. "I would like to wish our firefighters and their families a happy and safe Thanksgiving. We're grateful to our first responder community for its service and sacrifice."
This twenty-fourth round of grants provides help to local fire departments to fund the purchase of firefighting equipment, fund firefighter health and safety programs, enhance emergency medical services programs, and conduct fire prevention and safety programs. Since June, over 6400 fire departments have received almost $478 million to support their role as first responders in the neighborhoods and communities they serve as firefighters.
Grants have been made available to the following fire departments in South Carolina:
| Salley Volunteer Fire Dept. | Firefighting Vehicle | $130,500 | Salley |
| Sandy Branch Volunteer Fire Dept. | Firefighting Vehicle | $76,500 | McCormick |
| Harris Creek Volunteer Fire Dept. | Firefighting Vehicle | $144,000 | Society Hill |
| Reedy Creek Volunteer Fire Dept. | Firefighting Vehicle | $135,000 | Dillon |
| Teal's Mill Rural Volunteer Fire Dept. | Firefighting Vehicle | $55,137 | Chesterfield |
| Edisto Volunteer Fire Dept. | Firefighting Vehicle | $144,000 | Cope |
| Summerton Fire Dept. | Firefighting Vehicle | $40,500 | Summerton |
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), administers the Assistance for Firefighters Grant Program. The program assists rural, urban and suburban fire departments throughout the United States. A list of all current award recipients announced to date is posted on the USFA web site at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/grants . Future grant recipients will be listed as awards are made.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Monday, 01-Dec-2003 09:34:39