Grants for new emergency equipment now total $100,000

Presque Isle County is the recipient of $37,214 from the state Homeland Security Grant program for the purchase of specialized emergency response equipment, which will benefit law enforcement, as well as firefighters in the county. The county has received nearly $100,000 from the program from three grants over the past 17 months. PI County emergency services coordinator Bob Paschke is facilitating the funds and is working with every group in the county to distribute the equipment.

PASCHKE HAS purchased riot masks for every officer with a $25,000 grant received in December 2001, three months after the terrorist attack on the country. About 25 masks were purchased at $190.54 apiece. Last year, Paschke ordered a safety device that will be worn by firefighters. It?s called the Heat and Motion Personal Alert safety system. When the firemen are in a fire and become motionless, or if the fire reaches a certain temperature, an ear-piercing alarm is activated. About 100 units have been purchased at a cost of $16,825. They?ve been ordered and are being shipped to the county.

When they arrive, a meeting will be conducted prior to distribution. It?s equipment that couldn?t have been purchased without the grant funding.

THE SECOND GRANT of $35,000 was submitted in November 2002 and approved the next month. ?We?re in the process of spending that right now,? said Paschke. The latest funds were authorized last week. Paschke received word of the new grant while still having funds available from the 2002 grant ($17,000). Paschke has a timeline of two months to spend the $37,000, under the latest grant agreement. ?I don?t know what we are going to look at (purchasing),? said Paschke.

ONE IDEA being considered is the purchase of the expensive 800 megahertz radios. The Michigan State Police erected radio towers throughout the state and can contact other Michigan troopers, pretty much anywhere in the state. For example, an officer in a standoff in Marquette could call for assistance from officers in Gaylord or Detroit, if need be.

?A couple of weeks ago 911 went out and we were dead in the water,? said Paschke. The sheriff?s department was able to locate a 800 megahertz radio in the area to use, until the equipment in Rogers City was fixed. Paschke is thinking about purchasing two of the radios.

OTHER PURCHASES have included a radio for an Allied Ambulance, a backup radio for central dispatch, and six portable r

adios at a price of $761 each. The principal objective of the grant is to provide the purchase of specialized equipment to enhance the capability of state and local agencies to respond to incidents of terrorism involving the use of chemical, biological, nuclear, radiological, or explosive weapons. Another important part of the program is to ensure the standardization and interoperability of the equipment. The Office for State and Local Domestic Preparedness Support, Department of Justice (DOJ), awarded Michigan $4,786,000 in federal funds under the FY 2000 and FY 2001 Domestic Preparedness Equipment Program grants.

THE GRANT can only be used to purchase equipment designated by DOJ in the following categories: communications; decontamination; and chemical, biological and radiological detection. The equipment will enable the entire state to enhance its first response capabilities in the areas of fire, emergency medical services, hazardous materials, law enforcement, public works, public health and emergency management. Specific purchases will be based on each jurisdiction?s needs assessment.