County emergency-preparedness grant funds local caches, school and fire district projects

Lincoln County emergency-management staff reported July 23 on distribution of $36,000 in matching grants to build local emergency caches, purchase generators and connect school backup power, and supply go-bag kits for public safety and resiliency. Emergency Manager Samantha Buckley and Assistant Emergency Manager Susan Traxell summarized the program, which the county launched in 2007 and which provides up to $2,500 per eligible applicant as a local match for disaster-preparedness purchases. Eligible entities include cities, fire districts, schools, ports, the tribal government and OSU Extension. "All the applicants who applied this year were eligible, met the criteria, and they were approved," Traxell said. This year's awards included go-bag kits for municipal employees, shelter and responder caches for cities and fire districts, utility parts for a water district, a gravity water-filtration system and solar panels for North Lincoln Fire and Rescue, and funds to connect an existing generator to Eddyville Charter School. Traxell said the county spent $30,729 of the $36,000 allotted this year and has records of program awards back to 2011. Commissioners praised the program's longevity and community value. Board members asked questions about equipment life cycles for Connex containers and discussed outreach to eligible entities. Staff said they will send additional reminders and outreach to potential applicants next year and require applicants to close out prior grants before applying for new awards.