Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company to Receive $30,435 Grant

Bethany Beach, Delaware -The Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company will receive a $30,435 grant from the Department of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response in the seventh round of the 2003 Assistance to Firefighter Grant program, Senator Carper announced today. The money will be used towards fire operations and firefighter safety, specifically for the purchase of cold-water rescue suits, health equipment and for firefighter physicals. “The Bethany Beach Fire Company serves the community well and I am pleased that this money will enable them to continue to help save lives, people’s homes and their property,” said Senator Carper. The Assistance for Firefighters Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), a division of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate (EP&R), and assists rural, urban and suburban fire departments throughout the United States. The funds are used to increase the effectiveness of firefighting operations, firefighter health and safety programs, new fire apparatus, Emergency Medical Service programs, and Fire Prevention and Safety Programs. This week’s announcement represents almost $27 million nationwide for these fire departments. On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the EP&R Directorate of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). EP&R, continuing FEMA’s mission within the new department, leads the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. EP&R also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. For more information regarding the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, please contact the USFA Grant Program staff at 1-866-274-0960, or via email at usfagrants@fema.gov. A list of all current award recipients announced to date is posted on the USFA web site at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/grants. Future grant recipients will be listed as awards are made.