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County approves two State Homeland Security grant applications to add event-security and structural-rescue equipment
Summary
Commissioners voted 3-0 to approve two State Homeland Security Program grant applications that would buy equipment for soft-target event security and structural-collapse/entrapment response; the county expects a short application window and a local match letter from Farm Bureau.
Morgan County commissioners approved two State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) grant applications aimed at improving security and rescue capabilities at large local events.
Abby, an emergency-management staff member, told the board the state had delayed opening the grant window; county staff expect a seven- to ten-day application window once the program opens and were targeting mid-August for filing. “We have been told to anticipate a 7 to 10 day grant application window,” Abby said.
One application is for equipment to enhance protection of “soft targets” — gatherings that lack fixed security screening — such as pre-fair concerts and other events where there is no barrier to entry. Abby said the county will request about $40,000 within a program cap of $150,000 to buy portable equipment such as movable vehicle barriers and other screening gear to give event hosts security options. “This is equipment that we would work with event hosts to provide them during events such as the concert at the fair,” she said.
The second application would fund equipment and training for structural-collapse and entrapment response; staff described this as an expansion of recent confined-space and silo-response training to include buildings and other structures.
Farm Bureau has committed a $37,500 local-match letter to enable the county to apply for the full $150,000 program amount without drawing county funds for the match. Commissioners moved and seconded approval of both applications; the motion passed 3-0.
Commissioners asked staff to continue coordinating with local fire departments and other partners on the equipment list and to submit the applications once the state opens the grant window.
