Homeland Security funds funneled to four areas
By TOM GIAMBRONI
POSTED: May 8, 2008
LISBON — Columbiana County’s 2008 allocation of federal Homeland Security funds will be spent in four areas, according to county Emergency Management Agency Director Darren Dodson.
The largest chunk of the money — about $25,000 — will be used to purchase equipment that refills air tanks for firefighters and scuba divers. Dodson said the custodian of the mobile system will be the North Georgetown Fire Department, but it will be available to share by any department when needed.
The second biggest amount of money will be for the purchase of emergency equipment to be used in responding to a hazardous material, or hazmat, incident. Dodson said the equipment initially will be given to the East Palestine Fire Department, which has its own hazmat response team, but the EMA is working on creating a county hazmat team.
Dodson said a portion of the allocation is being used to pay for a security system at the East Palestine Water Treatment Plant as part of the EMA’s ongoing efforts to get security systems installed at every water plant in the county.
“You have to protect that critical infrastructure,” he said.
The remaining money is going to the Triangle Radio Club in East Liverpool to purchase new radio equipment. Amateur radio operators throughout the county assist the EMA by taking to the field as volunteer weather spotters and providing communications during other types of emergencies.
“They’re kind of our all-weather fighters ... If we need them, they’re available,” Dodson said.
An advisory committee, which decides how the Homeland Security money is spent, consists of representatives from police and fire departments, local hospitals, emergency medical services, health departments, schools, etc.
“We’re trying to distribute the money fairly and where it will do the most good,” Dodson said.
tgiambroni@mojonews.com
