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Borough awarded $49,000 State Homeland Security pass-through grant for radios and CERT training
Summary
The Fairbanks North Star Borough Finance Committee was briefed on a State Homeland Security pass-through award of $49,000 to support emergency management projects, including radio replacement and CERT training.
The Fairbanks North Star Borough Finance Committee was briefed on a State Homeland Security pass-through award of $49,000 to support emergency management planning, equipment and training projects.
Chief of Staff Jenda and Emergency Operations staff explained the grant requires no local match and funds projects in planning, exercises, equipment and training. The award includes $24,000 to replace six portable radios and accessories so emergency operations equipment meets Alaska Land Mobile Radio (ALMR) requirements, and $25,000 to support volunteers in policing and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
Staff described CERT as a "force multiplier" that supports search and rescue, traffic control, mass dispensing events and exercises. An Emergency Operations presenter said CERT had more than 500 volunteers and that members perform moulage for training exercises, assist with vaccination or distribution events, and staff community preparedness events. The administration said CERT and volunteers receive training on PPE, active-shooter response, and field tasks; they also noted uncertainty about the group's drone capability and said they would follow up.
Assembly members asked how volunteers join CERT; staff said applications are on the borough and city web sites and volunteers are screened and trained by staff. Members also asked whether state-level groups such as the State Defense Force collaborate with local volunteer teams; staff said they have in the past but not in recent years.
Staff and committee members discussed that FEMA funding through the state was tighter this year, producing a smaller-than-usual award for CERT: historically the program receives about $100,000 annually for CERT support, but this pass-through provided $25,000 for the borough's CERT this year. The transcript records staff answers and discussion but does not record a committee vote on the grant acceptance or appropriation in the provided excerpt.
