WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) today reported the award of another series of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants to help local fire departments improve their emergency response capabilities.

FEMA has approved Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) worth $470,338 for volunteer fire departments in Florence, Little Rock, Louin, Natchez and Pelahatchie.  The federal funding, awarded on a competitive basis, will be used for operations and safety or vehicle acquisition.

“As state and local governments work through budget shortfalls, these FEMA grants represent a welcome infusion of resources.  They will help these sometimes cash-strapped volunteer fire units in Mississippi obtain the equipment they need to ensure emergency response services,” said Cochran, who serves on the Senate appropriations subcommittee that funds FEMA. 

“Many of our local fire departments are made up of brave volunteer firefighters who work hard to keep their communities safe.  This funding will better equip and prepare them to respond to emergencies,” said Wicker.

AFG grants are awarded on a competitive basis by FEMA in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.  Fire departments and emergency medical service organizations that are not affiliated with a hospital may apply for operations and safety or vehicle acquisition funding.

Including the five awards announced today, Mississippi municipal and volunteer fire departments have been awarded 76 AFG grants worth almost $6.0 million this year.  The grants have been funded through the FY2009 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.

The following are the latest FY2009 AFG awards approved for Mississippi:

Vehicle Acquisition
• Star Volunteer Fire Department, Florence – $220,445
• Pelahatchie Volunteer Fire Department, Pelahatchie – $120,840

Operations and Safety
• Central Volunteer Fire Department/Marvin T. Bishop Station, Louin – $79,843
• Lake Montrose Volunteer Fire Department, Natchez – $33,250
• Beulah Hubbard Volunteer Fire Department, Little Rock – $15,960

###