(CLARKESVILLE) – Habersham County has recently received over three-quarters of a million dollars in grant funding to enhance public safety. The grants came through various organizations including FEMA, GEMA, and the 2019 Assistance to Firefighters Grant. This funding will be used to advance safety and improve public safety operational standards, according to a countywide news release.
In early July, Habersham County Emergency Services was awarded $731,909 through the 2019 Assistance to Firefighters Grant for the purchase of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).
According to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, the replacement of SCBA is required every 15-years. Habersham County’s required replacement time is approaching in 2023.
By receiving this grant two years early, the opportunity exists to surplus current SCBA and cylinders to a company that can refurb this equipment for resell to cover the 10% match required to secure the grant.
“This saves the county taxpayers to only having to cover ten percent of the total cost of the SCBA and our requirement to replace at end of 15-year service,” says Emergency Service Director Chad Black. He adds, depending on how much the county can get for its current SCBA and cylinders, it might end up costing county taxpayers even less than ten percent.
This funding was secured by Emergency Service Director Chad Black and his support staff.
Two additional grants were secured by 911/EMA Director Lynn Smith for the benefit of future storm preparations.
In September 2017, Hurricane Irma left widespread destruction across North East Georgia. Hurricane Irma made landfall in southwest Florida on September 10, 2017. Irma then moved northward into Georgia through the day on September 10th, continuing to bring widespread wind damage and heavy rainfall along its track.
As a result, Hurricane Irma caused major destruction to Georgia and Habersham County.
The amount of damage sustained by Habersham County resulted in a Presidential Declaration. This declaration allowed 911/EMA Director Lynn Smith to apply for FEMA/GEMA grants to better prepare Habersham county for storms like Hurricane Irma.
In early 2018, Smith applied for grant funding of two power generators through FEMA/GEMA in 2018 and has worked diligently to secure the grants since that time. The application and award process has taken over two years.
On July 2, 2020, Smith was notified that Habersham County received both grants totaling over $50,000. Installation preparations have begun for the generators to be placed at Fire Station 17 and EMS station 21. The department plans to complete the installation by December 2020.
In the past five years, Habersham County has secured over $33 million in grants from state and federal sources. County Commission Chair Stacy Hall expresses his appreciation to County Manager Phil Sutton and staff “for their incredible efforts” in securing the outside funding. Hall says the money has allowed the county to provide much needed services while maintaining lower property taxes.
