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 Firefighter 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 to 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 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.
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.fema.gov or enroll in the USFA email distribution list serve for the most current news releases from the USFA.
