| Having trouble reading this newsletter? Click here to print or to view in your web browser. You are receiving this newsletter because you signed up from our web site. Click here to unsubscribe. |
 |
Governmental Affairs Committee |
 |
 |
|
US FIRE GRANT SUPPORT GAC Resources For GAC documents, announcements, and information please click here to visit the microsite. Home Day 2007 Toolkit To download the Home Day 2007 Upcoming Events
HELP THE GAC!
Dear FAMA/FEMSA member: In January, you received an e-mail from the FAMA/FEMSA Governmental Affairs Committee (GAC) asking you to complete a survey that will help the GAC and its consultants learn what congressional relationships FAMA/FEMSA member companies have established. This information is essential to the GAC’s work to increase FAMA/FEMSA’s dialogue with federal government agencies in an effort to educate key officials on the important role our industry plays in providing equipment and services to the nation’s first responders. To help us enhance these efforts, we once again ask you to take a few moments to complete the enclosed survey. Specifically, this survey will help the GAC compile a comprehensive list of FAMA/FEMSA members’ locations and the congressional senators and representatives for those locations, an important step in establishing an educational network with the members of Congress and the administration. Please note that the survey can be conveniently completed online here. We also ask that the survey be completed as soon as possible. We have tried to keep this survey as simple and straightforward as possible. We thank you in advance for your assistance in this important effort. Sincerely, FAMA/FEMSA Governmental Affairs Committee
Subscribe to the Fire Grant Data website Success Stories RSS (Real Simple Syndication) news feed. Click here.
|
|
Pentagon Not Ready to Respond to Attack in US, Study Says Provisional Report Shows Heart Attack Remains Leading Cause of On-Duty Firefighter Deaths February is American Heart Month President Slashes First Responder Funding in FY 2009 Budget Request
House Subcommittee passes bill to reauthorize the U.S. Fire Admin. and allocate $293 million to the administration. On February 7, 2008, the House Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation passed a bill, HR 4847, which would reauthorize the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), an entity of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The mission of USFA is to reduce the loss of life and economic loss to fire and fire related agencies in coordination with other federal and local fire fighting agencies. The bill, which overwhelmingly passed the subcommittee by a voice vote, would allocate $293 million in total to USFA through fiscal year 2012. During debate of the bill the issue of economic loss from last year’s wildfires was raised as the rational for increasing the funding of USFA. The bill authorized the USFA to invest the $293 million allocation in new strategies and technologies for reducing fire related deaths and property loss. The bill will now go before the House Since and Technology Committee for approval.
Source: Dave Gatton, GAC Consultant DI Initiatives President, Secretary, and FEMA Administrator Tour Tornado Devastation On Friday, one day after Secretary Chertoff and FEMA Administrator Paulison came to survey the tornado damage to the region, President Bush toured parts of Macon County, Tenn., and received a briefing from FEMA Region IV officials following a series of tornadoes that struck Tennessee and four other states last week in an unusual winter occurrence. The tornadoes and violent storms claimed more than 55 lives while injuring several hundred more people, destroying homes, overturning vehicles, and leveling dormitory buildings on the campus of Union University in Jackson, Tenn. At a news conference following his tour in Macon County, the president pledged assistance to the people of Tennessee and said this would be “compassionate and effective.” On Thursday, after getting an aerial tour of the area, and touring the destruction on the campus of Union University, the secretary noted at a press conference that no lives were lost there and credited good disaster preparation before the tornadoes hit. The secretary said that the department stood “shoulder to shoulder” with state and local responders. Paulison, who also toured the area, added, “Looking at the impact the tornadoes had here, we are grateful for so few injuries. However, we are deeply saddened by the lives lost elsewhere in the region. Our prayers are with the families and loved-ones of the victims.” President Bush, responding to requests from Tennessee and Arkansas, declared major disasters in parts of those states, making them eligible for federal assistance. As of last Friday, FEMA Regions IV and VI have mobilized assessment teams and resources to respond to the devastation in both states, as well as in Kentucky, Mississippi, and Alabama. Among the resources being delivered to support state and local response operations are mobile emergency communications equipment and generators to restore power to critical infrastructure. Officials in Tennessee, from the governor to state and local emergency response officials, had positive things to say about FEMA’s responsiveness to the disaster there. In addition to meeting with Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, the secretary also phoned the governors of the other affected states and conveyed the thoughts and prayers of all DHS employees for the loss of life and the destruction of property, and the department’s commitment to support their state and local response and recovery efforts. More information about this is available at:
Source: DHS Pentagon Not Ready to Respond to Attack in US, Study Says An independent panel has told Congress the Pentagon isn’t prepared to respond to a chemical, biological or nuclear attack on US soil. Are the wars overseas to blame? Reuters’ Kristin Roberts says the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves has found that while the Defense Department is conducting “exhaustive planning for operations overseas, its planning for possible action inside the United States in response to attacks is inadequate.” “We looked at their plans. They’re totally unacceptable,” commission chairman Arnold Punaro, a retired Marine Corps major general, told Congress. “You couldn’t move a Girl Scout unit with the kind of planning they’re doing.” “While other federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, are responsible for pieces of the government’s response to an attack, the Defense Department is the only agency with the resources and capabilities to manage the overall response,” Roberts says. The commission also said the National Guard and Reserve should be ordered to lead the Defense Department’s activities in that arena because those part-time troops live throughout the US and often have skills needed in an emergency. To read the full article, click here: http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN3132841520080131
National Junior Firefighter Program Advisory Committee Holds Inaugural Meeting: Criteria Established for Scholarships and Grants The Advisory Committee for the National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) National Junior Firefighter Program met for the first time on January 31 at the NVFC headquarters in Greenbelt, MD. The committee developed the criteria for the upcoming National Junior Firefighter Scholarship and Grant program as well as provided guidance and input as to the future direction of the National Junior Firefighter Program. As part of the National Junior Firefighter Program, ten $5,000 scholarships will be awarded to junior firefighters nationwide who demonstrate commitment and dedication to their local junior firefighter program and the fire service. The departments of each of the winning students will also receive a grant of $5,000. The National Advisory Committee developed the criteria and application process for the competitive scholarships, which will be available by April 1. The deadline for applications is May 15. Stay tuned to the NVFC web site at www.nvfc.org for more information. The National Junior Firefighter Program was created by the NVFC and Spartan Motors, Inc. to help fire and EMS organizations nationwide develop, grow, and promote programs that encourage youth participation within the organizations. In addition, youth can use the Program to find out how to join a local fire, rescue, or EMS organization, keep track of their hours of service, and earn exciting rewards after spending a set number of hours helping their department. Launched in July 2007, the Program was recently awarded a grant by the Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation to expand the Program to include a scholarship and grant component, a more sophisticated web site with interactive database, stronger outreach efforts, and much more. The Advisory Committee is comprised of NVFC Board Members Jeff Cash (NC), Allen Metheny (DE), and Jim Williams (NY); Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department’s (MD) junior firefighter coordinator Mike Barnett; Jesse Schlueter of the Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation; and David Reid of Spartan Motors. In addition to members of the Committee, the meeting was attended by Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation representative David Kargas; Dave Iannone of the Hyattsville (MD) Volunteer Fire Department; Michelle Smith of the Hartly (DE) Volunteer Fire Company; and was facilitated by NVFC Executive Director Heather Schafer. Kimberly Ettinger and Amanda Ludholtz, NVFC staff members, also attended the meeting. To learn more about the National Junior Firefighter Program, visit www.nvfc.org/juniors. Source: NVFC Provisional Report Shows Heart Attack Remains Leading Cause of On-Duty Firefighter Deaths The United States Fire Administration (USFA) announced there were 115 on-duty firefighter fatalities in the United States in 2007. In 2007, there were firefighters lost in 33 states and Washington, DC. South Carolina experienced the highest number of fatalities (11) while Pennsylvania, New York, North Carolina, and California each suffered more than 5 on-duty losses. "This past year will be remembered by the entire fire service as one of the most tragic years for firefighters in recent memory," United States Fire Administrator Greg Cade said. "We are committed to continuing our dedicated efforts with the International Association of Fire Chiefs, National Volunteer Fire Council, International Association of Firefighters, and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to make sure 2008 is not a repeat of 2007 and a year in which Everyone Goes Home at the end of their emergency response assignments." Heart attacks and strokes were responsible for the deaths of 54 firefighters (47%) in 2007. Percentage-wise, this is down from 54 of the 106 (51%) firefighters in 2006. However, heart disease remains the leading cause of on-duty firefighter deaths. On June 18th, Charleston, SC, lost 9 firefighters while working to control a fire in a large sofa warehouse facility. Each year, firefighters becoming trapped and disoriented represent the largest portion of structural fireground fatalities. For 2007, 64% of all firefighter fatalities occurred while performing emergency duties. Almost 42% occurred at structure fires with 19 caught or trapped (16.5%). Ten on-duty firefighters died in wildland fires. Speed and a lack of seat belts contributed to many deaths as well. More than 2 of every 10 firefighter fatalities in 2007 occurred when responding to or returning from an incident. While seat belts and speed were not necessarily factors in all of these fatalities, they were contributing factors for most of them. These fatality statistics for 2007 are provisional and very much subject to change as the USFA contacts State Fire Marshals to verify the names of firefighters reported to have died on-duty during 2007. The final, annual firefighter fatality report for 2007 is expected to be available by early June. For additional information on firefighter fatalities, including the annual fatality reports from 1986 through 2006 and the Firefighter Fatality Retrospective Study 1990–2000, please visit the USFA Web site. Source: NVFC February is American Heart Month Cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke, is the number one cause of death in America. In fact, heart disease causes about 29% of all U.S. deaths. The emergency services are not immune to this tragic statistic. Heart disease remains the number one cause of on-duty firefighter fatalities, with about half of all line-of-duty deaths each year attributed to heart attacks. In recognition of the nation’s ongoing fight against heart disease, Congress issued a joint resolution in 1963 requesting that the President issue a proclamation each year designating February as American Heart Month. The purpose of this annual proclamation is to renew the nation’s commitment to fighting this deadly disease and increase public awareness of how to prevent cardiovascular illnesses. American Heart Month is a great time to reenergize your commitment to keeping your heart strong. The NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program has created an American Heart Month Resource Center you can use to learn more about heart-health as well as connect you to the resources and tools that will help you on the path to getting and keeping your heart strong. Learn more at www.healthy-firefighter.org. Source: NVFC President Slashes First Responder Funding in FY 2009 Budget Request On February 4, the President announced his FY 2009 budget request for funding for the federal government. The President’s budget slashes funding to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s State and Local Programs account by more than $1 billion, including a $260 million cut for the FIRE Grant program, elimination of the SAFER grant program, and a six percent reduction in funding for the United States Fire Administration (USFA). “The President’s budget is an abrupt and dramatic reduction of federal support for our nation’s firefighters and EMS personnel,” said National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. “The safety of first responders and the communities they serve will suffer if the funding levels proposed by the President are enacted.” FIRE and SAFER provide funding on a competitive basis directly to fire departments to bring them up to a baseline level of readiness. FIRE grants provide funding to purchase apparatus, equipment and training while SAFER grants pay for hiring and recruitment and retention of volunteers. The President is requesting $300 million for FIRE and nothing for SAFER. FIRE and SAFER are each authorized at approximately $1 billion and receive applications requesting more than twice this amount every year. The NVFC supports full funding for FIRE and SAFER. The mission of USFA is to reduce life and economic losses due to fire and related emergencies by providing training and coordination and performing research. The long-term health of USFA and its National Fire Academy are critical to the fire service. The President’s request of $41 million for USFA is a reduction of $2.3 million and more than $25 million less than authorized by Congress. Additionally, the President proposes to fund USFA in a manner that would allow FEMA to transfer funds between USFA and other accounts without notifying Congress. The NVFC supports full funding for USFA and opposes allowing the administration to reprogram USFA funding for other purposes. The President’s funding request includes $15 million for the Citizen Corps program, which supports Fire Corps, Medical Reserve Corps, Neighborhood Watch, Volunteers In Police Service and Community Emergency Response Teams. Fire Corps is a program administered by the NVFC that is designed to recruit citizens to volunteer for their fire/EMS departments in a non-operational capacity. More information about the President’s budget request can be found on the Office of Management and Budget’s web site. The budget request is just the first step in the process of making funds available for federal activities and programs. Ultimately, Congress will determine how to appropriate federal funding and the NVFC will work closely with our allies in the House and Senate, as we do every year, to ensure that programs providing assistance to the volunteer fire service receive adequate funding. Source: NVFC The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatalities: Name: Matthew Hubly Rank: Fire Chief Age: 43 Gender: Male Status: Paid-on-Call Years of Service: 16 Date of Incident: 02/01/2008 Time of Incident: 1000hrs Date of Death: 02/07/2008
Fire Department: Kankakee Township Fire Protection District Address: PO BOX 2407, Kankakee, IL 60901 Telephone: 815-933-2762 Fire Department Chief: Pending
Incident Description: Fire Chief Hubly was attending a meeting at an industrial facility regarding fire protection systems at the facility with plant personnel. He became hot & sweaty while at the facility. The Asst. Chief convinced him to let him take him to the hospital. As they were leaving the facility he went unresponsive. An ambulance was called and on arrival to the hospital the Chief was in full cardiac arrest. Hubly was revived but passed away from a cause to be determined several days later.
Funeral Arrangements: Pending
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending
Tribute is being paid to Fire Chief Matthew Hubly at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
Name: James Earl Arthur Rank: Firefighter Age: 19 Gender: Male Status: Volunteer Years of Service: 4 Date of Incident: 02/11/2008 Time of Incident: 1924hrs Date of Death: 02/11/2008
Fire Department: Cold Water Fire & Rescue Address: 100 1830 Gold Hill DR., PO Box 817, Concord, NC 28025-0817 Fire Department Chief: James Preddy, Jr. Incident Description: When responding to a motor vehicle accident alarm call, Firefighter Arthur was ejected when the privately owned vehicle he was operating left the roadway and rolled. Firefighter Arthur passed away from his injuries and reports indicate that he was not wearing a seat belt.
Funeral Arrangements: Visitation will be held from 5-8:30 p.m. Friday at Wilkinson Funeral Home, Concord. Funeral services with full fire department honors will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday atNew Gilead Church, 2400 old Salisbury Concord Rd.
Fire departments planning to send personnel or apparatus should contact the Cold Water Fire Department at 704-782-2514.
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending
Tribute is being paid to Firefighter James Earl Arthur at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/ Name: Kerry Sheridan Rank: Fire Chief Age: 75 Gender: Male Status: Part-Time (Paid) Years of Service: 53 Date of Incident: 02/12/2008 Time of Incident: 1500hrs Date of Death: 02/12/2008
Fire Department: Troy Township Fire Protection District Address: 107 W Jefferson ST., Shorewood, IL 60431-9399 Fire Department Chief: Pending
Incident Description: Fire Chief Sheridan was found unresponsive in his fire department office Tuesday afternoon. He was transported to Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, where he was pronounced. The Coroner has attributed Sheridan's death to natural causes.
Funeral Arrangements: Carlson-Holmquist-Sayles Funeral Home (http://www.chsfuneral.com/index.html). Visitation, 02/15/2008 from 1500-2100hrs. Services, Saturday morning (16th). Final arrangements are still pending.
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Donations in honor of Fire Chief Kerry Sheridan can be made to the Troy Township Fire Protection District, 107 W Jefferson ST., Shorewood, IL 60431-9399
Tribute is being paid to Fire Chief Kerry Sheridan at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/ Source: USFA |
|
|||||||
|
|
|