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Governmental Affairs Committee |
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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
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FEMA “Misdirected” $13 Million in Disaster Aid, Probe Says Maryland County Abolishes Homeland Security DHS Offers Assistance to Firefighters Grant Workshops FM Global Now Accepting Applications for 2008 Fire Prevention Grants
“A GENERATION OF PROGRESS” April 2-3 2008
Source: CFSI FEMA’s Paulison Speaks to National Advisory Council Members FEMA Administrator David Paulison discussed outreach to the private sector and the Fiscal Year 2009 budget at the second meeting of FEMA’s National Advisory Council (NAC). The council includes representatives from state, local, and tribal government, and those from the private sector, all of whom provide input to FEMA in the development and revision of the national preparedness goals and the national preparedness system. Speaking to council members Feb. 12, Paulison said, “No government, no matter how effective, should or can respond to every disaster by itself. At FEMA, we talk about ‘engaged partnerships’ that involve our friends in the private sector and among the non-profit organizations.” He said FEMA’s Office of the Private Sector needs the council’s input on building relationships with the private sector and strategies for effective public-private partnerships. Concerning the FY 2009 budget request for DHS, Paulison told the council that it will support strengthening FEMA’s ability to build an effective emergency response system and culture of preparedness. It includes $2.2 billion to support FEMA’s state and local assistance programs, and another $149 million to support FEMA’s disaster workforce, whose members are being transitioned from temporary employment status to permanent, full-time status.
Source: DHS FEMA “Misdirected” $13 Million in Disaster Aid, Probe Says The Federal Emergency Management Agency is once again making headlines, as a new report from the Department of Homeland Security inspector general claims the agency misused $13 million in funds. The Associated Press’ Mimi Hall says the report found that FEMA “took money from the sale of used travel trailers and inappropriately used it to buy $13 million worth of SUVs, global positioning systems and other items.” Hall says DHS inspector general Richard Skinner found FEMA misspent millions after the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons that should have either been returned to the US Treasury or used to buy more trailers for hurricane victims. “Even allowing for the hectic situation that arose in the aftermath of the 2004 and 2005 hurricanes, FEMA officials at all levels did not take appropriate action to ensure that proceeds from the sale of trailers and mobile homes were properly used,” Skinner said in a report last week. The report also found that FEMA spent about $2.9 billion on 230,000 trailers and mobile homes for displaced victims of Hurricane Katrina and other storms. “By law, when residents leave the trailers, FEMA may sell them to the public but the money can only be returned or spent on more trailers,” Hall says. To read the full article, click here: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-02-20-FEMA_N.htm
Maryland County Abolishes Homeland Security Maryland’s Montgomery County has decided to abolish its Department of Homeland Security amidst a nationwide trend of counties focusing on an all-hazards approach to emergency preparedness. In an article on the Gazette.net website, C. Benjamin Ford says that while the county must still make final approval before dismantling the department, county executive Isiah Leggett said he will shift the duties of the county’s Homeland Security Department to a new Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Mike Selves, former president of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), told Ford that in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, many counties had formed homeland security departments to receive homeland security grants from the federal government and for administration and coordination purposes. However, Selves pointed out that, “the homeland security dollars are drying up so there should be some consolidating of services, and I’m not sure that’s a bad thing. It really doesn’t matter what the hazard is, whether a terrorist attack or a tornado, it requires a coordinated response. The bottom line is if your house is destroyed, you don’t care if it was destroyed by a terrorist or a tornado or an earthquake, you want someone there to help.” Rocky Lopes, project manager for homeland security at the National Association of Counties in Washington, told Ford the change probably won’t change how the county responds to emergencies. “It sounds harsh to say it’s going to be abolished, like it’s going away and never going to be done again,” Lopes told Ford. “But they’re not doing away with the functions. They’re just changing how it is structured and who they report directly to.” To read the full article, click here: http://www.gazette.net/stories/022208/polinew200637_32365.shtml
DHS Offers Assistance to Firefighters Grant Workshops NVFC Collecting Successful Grant Narratives to be Posted Online The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is conducting a schedule of workshops around the country from now through the middle of March to assist fire and EMS departments in applying for funding through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (also known as FIRE Grants). FIRE Grants provide direct assistance to agencies to purchase equipment, apparatus, and training. “Information will be presented on program changes, program priorities, eligibility requirements, and on the application process,” according to a message posted at www.firegrantsupport.com. “Also, general assistance in the writing of a competitive narrative for a department’s grant application will be discussed.” For the second consecutive year, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is collecting successful grant narratives from past years and will post them in its AFG and SAFER Grant Narrative Resource Center as a guide for fire and EMS departments applying for FIRE Grants. In addition to the model narratives, the NVFC has posted a grant-writing guide created by DHS. Applicants should use the posted narratives as a reference only and not plagiarize from them. DHS uses software to detect language recurring in multiple grant applications. Submitting an application that includes false information is a crime punishable by law. FIRE Grant criteria is reviewed and updated every year based on recommendations from the fire service community. Applicants should review the grant criteria for FY 2008 once it becomes available in order to ensure that their narrative reflects current program priorities. The updated grant criteria will be made available when the application period opens in early March. The NVFC is asking departments that have received FIRE Grants in the past to submit the narratives from successful applications to be included in the Resource Center. Narratives can be sent to: National Volunteer Fire Council Source: NVFC FM Global Now Accepting Applications for 2008 Fire Prevention Grants $245,000 in Awards Made in 2007 Commercial property insurer FM Global is accepting applications for 2008 Fire Prevention Grants. Through its Fire Prevention Grant Program, FM Global awards grants that can have the most demonstrable impact on preventing fire, or mitigating the damage it can quickly cause. FM Global awarded $245,000 in Fire Prevention Grants in 2007. These grants helped nearly 100 national, state, regional, local, and community organizations more effectively prevent fire – the leading cause of property destruction. The company has provided millions of dollars to fire service organizations and related agencies during the past three decades, which have helped bolster loss prevention initiatives such as community education, prefire planning, and arson prevention, to name a few. “At FM Global, we believe the majority of property damage is preventable, not inevitable,” said Michael Spaziani, manager of the fire prevention grant program. “Far too often, inadequate budgets prevent those organizations working to prevent fire from being as proactive as they would like to be. With additional financial support, grant recipients are actively helping to improve the overall risk profile of the communities they serve.” To learn more about FM Global’s Fire Prevention Grant Program, or to apply for a grant, visit www.fmglobal.com/grants. FM Global’s clients include one out of every three FORTUNE 1000 companies and similar-sized organizations in more than 130 countries. For nearly 175 years, clients have worked with FM Global to develop robust property insurance and engineering solutions to protect their business operations from fire, natural disasters, and other types of property risk. FM Global ranks 578 among FORTUNE magazine’s largest companies in America and was named “Best Global Property Insurer” and “Best Property Insurer – North America” by Global Finance magazine. The company also is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best and ‘AA’ (Very Strong) by Fitch Ratings. Source: NVFC The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatalities: Name: Vance Tomaselli Rank: Captain Age: 66 Gender: Male Status: Paid-on-Call Years of Service: 27 Date of Incident: 02/16/2008 Time of Incident: 1254hrs Date of Death: 02/21/2008
Fire Department: San Bernardino County Fire Department Address: 157 W 5th Street, 2nd Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92415-1012 Fire Department Chief: Pat Dennen Fire Department Website: http://www.sbcfire.org/
Incident Description: On Saturday, February 16th, while operating fire apparatus enroute to a structure fire (cabin), Captain Tomaselli suffered a stroke. Tomaselli sideswiped several trees but was able to keep control of the engine until he reached a clearing, bringing the apparatus to a stop. He was airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery. Tomaselli remained in the hospital but was unable to recover from his injury, passing away late in the evening of February 21st.
Funeral Arrangements/Memorial Fund: Additional information will be provided as available @ http://www.sbcfire.org/whats_new/tomaselli.asp
Tribute is being paid to Captain Vance Tomaselli at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
Name: Shane Stewart Rank: Captain Age: 33 Gender: Male Status: Volunteer Years of Service: 3 Date of Incident: 02/23/2008 Time of Incident: 0615hrs Date of Death: 02/23/2008
Fire Department: Ault-Pierce Fire Department Address: 205 First St., PO Box 1069, Ault, CO 80610 Fire Department Chief: Scott Wagner
Incident Description: Captain Stewart responded to an emergency medical call in the town of Ault, CO, as sole occupant of Engine 3 (1995 Pierce Pumper Tanker - 2000 gallon tank), stationed at the Pierce Station. While enroute, Engine 3 was involved in an accident at Weld County Roads 33 and 88, in which the apparatus reportedly left the gravel covered roadway and turned over. Captain Stewart was ejected from the vehicle and passed away from injuries sustained.
Funeral Arrangements: Services on 02/28/2008 at 1000hrs, Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631. Apparatus line-up will be at 0900hrs at the Civic Center. Information contact either Greely FD, (970) 350-9500, or Eaton FD, (970) 454-2115.
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Farmers Bank, 119 1st Street, Ault, CO 80610 970 834-2121
Tribute is being paid to Captain Shane Stewart at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/ Name: Joey Turner Rank: Firefighter Age: 48 Gender: Male Status: Volunteer Years of Service: < 1 (8 Months) Date of Incident: 02/21/2008 Time of Incident: 1030hrs Date of Death: 02/22/2008
Fire Department: Homerville/ Clinch Company Volunteer Fire Department Address: 91 W Dame, PO Box 535, Homerville, GA 31634 Fire Department Chief: Danny Strickland
Incident Description: Firefighter Turner collapsed and went into respiratory and cardiac failure while participating in a training evolution at the Georgia Fire Academy.
Funeral Arrangements: 02/27/2008, 1400hrs @ Homerville Congregational Methodist Church, Highway 441 N., Homerville, GA 31634
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: In honor of Firefighter Joey Turner, C/o Homerville/ Clinch Company Volunteer Fire Department, 91 W Dame, PO Box 535, Homerville, GA 31634
Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Joey Turner at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/ Source: USFA |
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