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Dorchester County approves Whole Blood Program, seeks federal grant for mass-casualty ambulance bus and accepts several public safety grants
Summary
Council accepted a $71,300 MIEMSS Whole Blood Program grant, approved pursuit of a $350,000–$600,000 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant for a mass-casualty ambulance bus (10% local match proposed for FY28), and accepted or authorized multiple smaller public health and mitigation grants.
The Dorchester County Council on June 2 approved acceptance of a $71,300 Whole Blood Program grant through the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) to fund the first year of the county program and equip EMS to increase response options for patients who require blood. The minutes note that, until now, blood for critical patients was transported by helicopter when needed.
Following discussion, the Council also agreed unanimously to pursue a FY25 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) through FEMA for $350,000–$600,000 to purchase a medical ambulance bus designed for mass casualty incidents. The Council recorded that a 10% local match would be funded in the FY28 operating budget contingent on future budget approvals.
On the consent agenda the Council accepted a $392,413 FY27 Family Services Grant through the Maryland Administrative Office of the Courts to support the Circuit Court Family Services Program (no local match), and a $5,000 Tobacco & Vape Prevention mini-grant for Recreation & Parks to fund a three-week youth volleyball clinic. The Council also approved submission of a $31,250 FEMA FY24 Flood Mitigation Assistance application to hire a consultant to update the County Hazard Mitigation Plan; the minutes state a 25% match would be funded by the FY28 operating budget if approved.
In public comment Sharon Smith asked for additional information about the blood program; Councilman George L. Pfeffer Jr. provided details and Emergency Management Planner Jimmy Windsor described benefits of the proposed mass-casualty bus. Finance Director Karen Tolley explained an updated landfill sticker online application in response to a public question. All grant acceptances and the decision to pursue the AFG were recorded as unanimous among members present (4–0); the local-match commitments for AFG and FEMA flood mitigation remain contingent on future budget approvals.
