Assistance To Firefighters Grant Awards Announced To Aid America's Firefighters
Texas Receives $1,025,010 to Assist Local Fire Departments in Latest Round of Grants
Release Date: September 5, 2003
Release Number: R6-03-100
Denton, TX - Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, announced 306 grants to fire departments throughout the U.S. in the thirteenth round of the 2003 Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. 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 15 communities in Texas, including grants to Scottsville, Paris, Daingerfield, Kennard, Hemphill, Livingston, Murchison, Nocona, Wichita Falls, Brookesmith, Paradise, Big Spring, Harper, Liverpool, and San Antonio.
"Homeland Security through FEMA is working tirelessly to distribute these funds quickly and efficiently," said Under Secretary Brown. "The stories we are hearing about the success of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants and the support this program provides to local communities underline President Bush's commitment to first responders."
This thirteenth round of grants provides $23.1 million to help local fire departments fund the purchase of firefighting equipment, fund firefighter health and safety programs, enhance emergency medical services programs, and conduct fire prevention and safety programs.
Grants have been made available to the following fire departments in Texas:
- Scottsville Volunteer Fire Department, Scotsville - Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety ($58,608).
- Faught Volunteer Fire Department, Paris - Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety ($50,060).
- Rocky Branch Volunteer Fire Department, Daingerfield - Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety ($72,941).
- Kennard-Ratcliff Volunteer Fire Department, Kennard - Fire Operation and Firefighter Safety ($47,326).
- Fairmount Volunteer Fire Department, Hemphill - Firefighting Vehicle ($95,130)
- Alabama-Coushatta Indian Nation Volunteer Fire Department, Livingston - Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety ($72,599)
- Murchison Volunteer Fire Department, Murchison - Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety ($50,271)
- Nocona Rural Volunteer Fire Department, Nocona - Firefighting Vehicle ($157,500)
- Wichita West Volunteer Fire Department, Wichita Falls - Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety ($21,149)
- Brookesmith Volunteer Fire Department, Brookesmith - Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety ($10,800)
- Cottondale Volunteer Fire Department, Paradise - Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety ($51,165)
- Big Spring Fire Department, Big Spring - Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety ($11,700)
- Harper Volunteer Fire Department, Harper -Firefighting Vehicle ($161,100)
- Liverpool Volunteer Fire Department, Liverpool - Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety ($68,180)
- Shavano Park Fire Department, San Antonio - Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety ($96,481)
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: Friday, 05-Sep-2003 09:23:34