Commissioners approve Tri-County EMC grant application to distribute 250 weather radios and 50 combination smoke/CO alarms

The Jones County Board of Commissioners on May 20 approved applying for a Tri-County EMC grant to purchase weather radios and combination smoke/carbon-monoxide alarms to distribute free to residents, with county staff and fire personnel to install devices and track recipients.

Miss Karen, a county emergency-services representative, told the board the grant would allow the county to obtain 250 preprogrammed weather radios and 50 combination smoke/CO alarms directly from the vendor; the radios would be preprogrammed and the alarms contain CO detection. "I'm wanting to... apply for the Tri County grant to purchase some weather radios and smoke alarms with CO in them to give out... free to people," she said.

Miss Karen said the county would target residents who lack local weather-siren coverage and would emphasize distribution to elderly and handicapped residents who cannot install devices themselves. She said the fire department would help with installation and recordkeeping. Commissioners asked how recipients would be identified; Miss Karen said distribution would be coordinated with fire departments and that in past efforts the county prioritized elderly and residents who could not climb ladders to install alarms.

The board moved and approved the grant application. Commissioners and staff noted the public-safety value in offering both early-storm alerts and smoke/CO protection and urged outreach plans to reach residents most at risk.

Ending: staff will submit the grant application and return with implementation details if the grant is awarded.