Evanston Mayor Grateful to Durbin, Feds for FEMA Funding for Fire Dept.
The City of Evanston learned on February 22, 2012 that its Fire and Life Safety Services was named one of five Illinois fire departments to have received an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The $132,000 will help support and improve the capability of Evanston’s Fire and Life Safety Services to respond to fires and other types of emergencies.
“I am grateful for the hard work Senator Durbin has put forth in helping secure for Evanston these much needed funds and the importance that he places on firefighters and their role in protecting our community; this grant will help the brave men and women of our fire department continue to provide excellent, lifesaving services,” said Mayor Tisdahl. "The City of Evanston is grateful to have such strong and dedicated representation in Washington, DC with Senator Durbin and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky who understand the needs of Illinois municipalities.”
"The $132,000 awarded to our Department will be used towards the purchase of four state of the art, high tech cardiac monitor/defibrillators,” explained Fire Chief Greg Klaiber. “These monitors will be placed on each of our three Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances and one of our ALS engine companies, and will assist our professional firefighter/paramedics in saving lives in the community of Evanston."
The funding is provided through the Department of Homeland Security’s AFG Program – a competitive grant program which seeks to strengthen the Nation’s overall level of preparedness and ability to respond to fire and fire related hazards. In the 2010 award year, Illinois received 132 awards which totaled over $14.8 million in federal funding to first-responder organizations for the purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment, training, and vehicles. In FY2011, the program will award approximately $380 million nationwide of which $1,377,472 went to five fire departments in Illinois.
See Senator Durbin’s press release here>>>