FEMA Announces More Assistance To Firefighters Grant Awards
Virginia Receives Nearly $90,000 In Latest Round
Release Date: September 30, 2003
Release Number: R3-03-95
Washington, DC -- Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, announced 166 grants to fire departments throughout the U.S. in the 16th round of the 2003 Assistance to Firefighters Grant program.
The announcement includes awards to Powhatan and Singers Glen in Virginia.
To date, more than 4,000 fire departments have received almost $270 million to support their role as first responders in the neighborhoods and communities they serve as firefighters.
"I'd like to thank the firefighters for responding to numerous emergency calls during Hurricane Isabel and for joining the recovery efforts of state and local emergency managers, public works, law enforcement, and the Red Cross," said Under Secretary Brown. "To support our first responders who answer the call in natural disasters and man-made hazards, President Bush, Secretary Ridge and I remain committed to directly funding their efforts to save lives and property through this grant program administered by Homeland Security and FEMA."
The Assistance for Firefighters Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and assists rural, urban and suburban fire departments throughout the United States. These funds are used by the nation's firefighters to increase the effectiveness of firefighting operations, fire fighter health and safety programs, new fire apparatus, emergency medical service programs, and fire prevention and safety programs.
Grants have been announced for the following Virginia fire departments (location in parentheses):
- Powhatan Vol. Fire Co. #1 (Powhatan), Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety, $26,529
- Singers Glen Volunteer Fire Co. (Singers Glen), Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety, $62,755
A list of all current award recipients is posted on the USFA website at www.usfa.fema.gov/grants.
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, 06-Oct-2003 09:22:30