Training

Woodbury County Board of Supervisors

Chairman Douglas Walish

Announces $6 Million for Area First Responders

Funds will improve communications, prepare for large-scale emergencies

Sioux City , Iowa Doug Walish, chairman of the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors announced today that Woodbury County will receive nearly six million dollars to purchase new communications equipment for area first responders. The funds are part of an Interoperable Communications Technology grant which is jointly administered by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) and Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, U.S. Department of Justice (COPS).

“Improving our communication system is a significant step in ensuring that first responders are ready for any emergency,” Chairman Walish said. "It will result in a more coordinated, effective response to emergencies, meaning enhanced safety and security for residents of Woodbury County and the Siouxland area.”

"These grant funds will have an enormous impact on the capability of our counties’ first responders to both plan for, and respond to any emergency or disaster. I applaud the effort of the Department of Homeland Security, and the local grant writing committee. I want to thank our U.S. Senators, Tom Harkin and Charles Grassley for their support in our pursuit of this grant. I also want to extend a special thanks to Iowa Governor Thomas J. Vilsack and Iowa Homeland Security Director Ellen M. Gordon for selecting Woodbury County to compete for this grant. We look forward to working with them and their staff to implement this project. These efforts will ultimately benefit the people of the Siouxland area."

A lack of communication is one of the major problems currently facing first responders. Many groups rely on systems that serve only their particular needs. The Interoperable Communications Technology grant will provide funding for a communication system that can be shared by all first responder organizations in the Tri-State area.

The funding will be used to acquire equipment, and explore new technologies that will assist area firefighters, law enforcement, emergency medical services, and other first responders communication through the same system during a large-scale emergency. The grants will cover the purchase of communications equipment, enhancements to communications infrastructure, and project administration expenses.

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