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WASHINGTON, DC - Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security
for Emergency Preparedness and response, announced 189 grants to fire departments
throughout the U.S. this week in the fifteenth round of the 2003 assistance
to Firefighters Grant Program. to date, over 3800 fire departments have
received over $257 million to support their role as first responders in
the neighborhoods and communities they serve as firefighters.
"As the East coast prepares for Hurricane Isabel, Homeland Security
through FEMA continues to meet its all-hazards mission by getting these
critical funds directly to first responders and the communities they serve,"
said Under Secretary Brown. "We anticipate that America's firefighters
will once again be responding to storm-related emergencies for millions
of people. To support our first responders, President Bush, Secretary Ridge
and I remain committed to funding their efforts to save lives and property."
The assistance to 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, firefighter health
and safety programs, new fire apparatus, emergency medical service programs,
and fire prevention and safety programs.
Fire departments having questions regarding the Assistance to Firefighters
Grant Program can reach the FEMA Grant Program staff at 1-866-274-0960,
or via email at usfagrants@fema.gov.
For the most current information regarding these grant awards, and any
of the many other USFA projects, visit www.usfa.fema.gov
or enroll in the USFA email distribution listserv for the most current
news releases from the USFA.
FEMA has became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and
continuing their 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.
Go to the Official USFA Web
Site
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