July 16, 2012

Manchin, Rockefeller Announce $186,000 Grant for Harrison County EMS

WASHINGTON, DC – Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin today announced a $186,000 federal grant for the Harrison County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for operations and safety to further its ability to protect the health and safety of the people of Harrison County.

Harrison County EMS is a volunteer emergency squad based in Clarksburg, which serves communities throughout Harrison County.

“The destruction of the Derecho storm this month showed once again just how essential well prepared first responders are to the entire state of West Virginia. Emergency personnel save lives and are the front line of all our responses,” Rockefeller said. “These federal funds will enable Harrison County EMS and emergency medical workers to continue helping West Virginians in need. I am glad that FEMA agreed with me on the need to extend its grant application deadline for the next year’s grants, so that more fire departments and EMS organizations in West Virginia can apply.”

“As our recent storms have again demonstrated, our committed firefighters work hard to make sure that the people of West Virginia are safe and protected every day,” Senator Manchin said. “These grants from the Department of Homeland Security give our firefighters the best tools to help West Virginians in times of need. In fact, when the storms hit our state, many of our fire departments were about to apply for the next round of these grants. But our dedicated firefighters were so busy helping clean up the aftermath - and putting people first - that they didn't have time to work on their applications. I was glad to be able to work with FEMA to extend the application deadline so that firefighters could respond to West Virginians' immediate needs and still plan for the future.”

Background: 

For Fiscal Year 2011, the AFG program will award nearly $380 million in direct assistance to fire department and emergency medical service organizations to improve the effectiveness of firefighting operations and emergency response capabilities. Funding can be used to purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment and vehicles.

AFG grants are funded through the annual Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act. Rockefeller and Manchin have consistently supported this and other grant programs to ensure adequate funding and resources for America’s first responders. 

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