FEMA Awards $17.6 Million In Equipment And Training To Smaller Emergency Response Agencies Nationwide
Release Date: September 26, 2008
Release Number: HQ-08-227
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced the award of equipment and training worth $17.6 million to 1,045 emergency response agencies in 46 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico under the fiscal year 2008 Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP). Since the program's inception in 2005, DHS has provided roughly 6,800 CEDAP awards worth more than $120 million to support all hazards response capabilities in smaller jurisdictions around the country.
"These grants provide smaller law enforcement, fire and other emergency response agencies with funding for essential equipment and training that might otherwise exceed their finite resources," said FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison. "CEDAP strengthens our country's overall preparedness by helping to equip our first responders with the tools they need to protect their communities, and themselves, during an emergency."
Eligibility for CEDAP is limited to law enforcement agencies, fire departments and other emergency responder agencies with specific financial and capability needs. FY 2008 CEDAP funds equipment and training in five categories: extrication devices; thermal imaging, night vision and video surveillance tools; chemical, biological and radiological detection tools; information technology and risk management tools; and vehicle tracking tools.
CEDAP equipment awards are integrated with state planning processes for regional response and asset distribution. Each state's administrative agency has the opportunity to review applications submitted by first responder organizations within their state to ensure that equipment requests are consistent with their state homeland security strategy.
CEDAP is a highly competitive program that works in conjunction with other DHS grant programs to help strengthen the regional response and mutual aid capabilities across the nation to increase overall preparedness.
Of the 1,045 FY 2008 CEDAP awards, 830 (79 percent) were awarded to law enforcement agencies, with the remainder awarded to fire departments, emergency medical service, emergency management and public safety agencies.
For more information on CEDAP and other DHS grant programs, visit www.fema.gov.
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, 26-Sep-2008 14:11:52