Homeland Security grants buy special equipment for emergency services
Grants help departments in Park Hills, Potosi and more
By PAULA BARR
Daily Journal Staff Writer
Daily Journal Staff Writer
Published: Monday, December 31, 2007
Updated: Monday, December 31, 2007 10:24 AM CST
Updated: Monday, December 31, 2007 10:24 AM CST
Several emergency departments in the Parkland have been awarded grants to improve public safety.
The grants are from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP). The FY 2007 CEDAP grants will provide approximately $33.7 million in equipment and training to law enforcement and emergency response agencies across the country. As part of the grant, recipients will be extensively trained in the use of the equipment before it is distributed.
Among the recipients for the grant, which will be awarded in 2008, were Park Hills Police Department, Potosi Fire Protection District, Mineral Area College’s Department of Public Safety, Fredericktown Fire Department, Ironton Fire Department, Ironton Police Department and Madison County Sheriff’s Department.
Park Hills Police Department
Park Hills Police Department will receive a $8,499 grant to purchase a search and rescue camera system. The system will help with building searches or building collapses. It can see around corners and through small spaces, police said.
Potosi Fire Protection District
Potosi Fire Board Treasurer Bob Hahn said the department would use its $12,000 for six protective suits. The level B hazardous matter ensemble protective suit resembles “moon suits” and includes a self-contained breathing apparatus, Hahn said.
The suits, each of which costs about $2,000, provide a chemical and biological barrier for emergency workers who enter hazardous conditions. Each suit can be worn only once.
“We have never had a serious hazardous material incident in our county, but we have Buckman Lab in Cadet and a major rail line, 8 and 21 highways, all of which are used for transportation of hazardous materials,” Hahn explained. “It’s just one more tool that you have to have in case there is an event. Otherwise, we would have to stand back and wait even when we are first responders — we couldn’t go in and rescue anyone.”
Fire departments such as Potosi that are too small to establish a hazardous materials team are starting to build up resources to handle hazardous materials, he added.
Mineral Area College
Mineral Area College will receive $30,935.80 for its public safety department. According to Mark Potratz, director of public safety for the college, the money will buy a specialized piece of equipment that will benefit the community as well as the college.
“This provides for highly specialized equipment that has a lot of uses,” he said. “The Ahura First Defender™ is a chemical weapons, hazardous materials, and drug detecting unit.”
The portable equipment warns when one is approaching an area where chemicals, hazardous materials or drugs pose a danger.
“It can sample airborne particles for a substance, measure it, tell what kind of substance it is and tell its strength,” he said. “It’s critical for first-responders to know what they’re dealing with.”
The equipment also will be used in firefighting and law enforcement training for college students and in continuing education for firefighters and law enforcement in the area.
“It will make everybody a little safer,” Potratz said.
Fredericktown Fire Department
The Fredericktown Fire Department will receive $30,935.80 to buy a CDAP chemical detection kit, which contains an Ahura First Defender™ . The handheld chemical identification instrument will be used in the field for identification of toxic industrial chemicals, narcotics, contraband, chemical weapons, and white powders. The First Defender is a completely self-contained analytical apparatus, with an embedded computer and display for software navigation and chemical analysis.
The kit also includes an MSA Sirius® Multigas Detector, which allows users to simultaneously monitor for volatile organic compounds while measuring for combustible, toxic and oxygen deficient atmospheres within one reliable, easy-to-use, durable unit. It can detect hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, combustible gas, and low oxygen levels.
“As everyone is aware, this time of year is big for carbon monoxide poisoning,” said Fire Chief John Clark. “Though you should have a detector in your home, this device will allow us to enter a hazardous area with a detection device to find a hazard in a much quicker fashion. Other Hazmat situations can be remedied in a much quicker fashion.”
City water and sewer staff will use the devices to check for a hazardous atmosphere before entering an area. The devices may be used throughout Madison County.
Ironton Fire Department
Ironton Fire Department’s grant is for $30,935.80. Fire Chief Don McClanahan referred questions about the grant to the assistant chief. However, the assistant chief, who handles all the department’s grants, was out of town on personal business and could not be reached for more information.
Ironton Police Department
The police department in Ironton will receive an $11,500 grant to be used for a video surveillance camera system.
The department is getting an XOA Series Portable Video Surveillance system and training to use it. The portable unit can be manned or unmanned to manage up to four cameras at once, according to a letter from the Department of the Army’s Electronic Proving Ground program manager Rafael Anton. It can zoom in for long range use and can be used day or night. The package includes a mobile video command center, day/night long range camera, two fixed focal length color Lipstick cameras, a black-and-white Lipstick Camera and a 40 G USB removable, external hard drive.
The equipment is appreciated by the department, Ironton Police Chief Ray Koch said.
“Any time that we can get an $11,000 piece of equipment for nothing, that’s $11,000 we’ve saved the community,” he added. “Any equipment that helps us fight crime will help the community.”
The camera can be used for undercover work or for surveillance in suspected drug trafficking areas,” Koch said. “You can sit off and take pictures and nobody will know you’re there.”
Madison County Sheriff’s Department
The grant for Madison County Sheriff’s Department is $11,794 and will be used for a thermal imager. The handheld unit detects temperature differences and creates an image of the object based on the heat. For example, if someone gets up from a chair, the unit will show an image outlining where the person was sitting. It can show the level of soda in a cup from outside the cup, said Sheriff David Lewis.
This will be the department’s second unit. The current imager allows detectives to take about a dozen photos to use as evidence.
“It is an invaluable tool. We’ve used it in methamphetamine labs to determine liquids in containers, or chemicals that are creating a ‘hot spot,’” Lewis said. “We’ve used them in the past for finding lost people or suspects.”
The units can be used day or night, and work much better than night vision equipment, Lewis said.
“They are a great tool,” he said.
Nationwide in FY 2007, a total of 3,709 CEDAP applications were submitted and 1,853 were accepted for award. This included 56 awards for the Incident Commander’s Radio Interface (ICRI) under the category of Interoperable Communications equipment. Of the 1,853 awards 1,389 (75 percent) were awarded to law enforcement agencies with the remainder awarded to fire departments, emergency medical service, emergency management and public safety.
Teresa Ressel provided some information for this story.
Paula Barr is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 172 or at pbarr@dailyjournalonline.com.
The grants are from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP). The FY 2007 CEDAP grants will provide approximately $33.7 million in equipment and training to law enforcement and emergency response agencies across the country. As part of the grant, recipients will be extensively trained in the use of the equipment before it is distributed.
Among the recipients for the grant, which will be awarded in 2008, were Park Hills Police Department, Potosi Fire Protection District, Mineral Area College’s Department of Public Safety, Fredericktown Fire Department, Ironton Fire Department, Ironton Police Department and Madison County Sheriff’s Department.
Park Hills Police Department
Park Hills Police Department will receive a $8,499 grant to purchase a search and rescue camera system. The system will help with building searches or building collapses. It can see around corners and through small spaces, police said.
Potosi Fire Protection District
Potosi Fire Board Treasurer Bob Hahn said the department would use its $12,000 for six protective suits. The level B hazardous matter ensemble protective suit resembles “moon suits” and includes a self-contained breathing apparatus, Hahn said.
The suits, each of which costs about $2,000, provide a chemical and biological barrier for emergency workers who enter hazardous conditions. Each suit can be worn only once.
“We have never had a serious hazardous material incident in our county, but we have Buckman Lab in Cadet and a major rail line, 8 and 21 highways, all of which are used for transportation of hazardous materials,” Hahn explained. “It’s just one more tool that you have to have in case there is an event. Otherwise, we would have to stand back and wait even when we are first responders — we couldn’t go in and rescue anyone.”
Fire departments such as Potosi that are too small to establish a hazardous materials team are starting to build up resources to handle hazardous materials, he added.
Mineral Area College
Mineral Area College will receive $30,935.80 for its public safety department. According to Mark Potratz, director of public safety for the college, the money will buy a specialized piece of equipment that will benefit the community as well as the college.
“This provides for highly specialized equipment that has a lot of uses,” he said. “The Ahura First Defender™ is a chemical weapons, hazardous materials, and drug detecting unit.”
The portable equipment warns when one is approaching an area where chemicals, hazardous materials or drugs pose a danger.
“It can sample airborne particles for a substance, measure it, tell what kind of substance it is and tell its strength,” he said. “It’s critical for first-responders to know what they’re dealing with.”
The equipment also will be used in firefighting and law enforcement training for college students and in continuing education for firefighters and law enforcement in the area.
“It will make everybody a little safer,” Potratz said.
Fredericktown Fire Department
The Fredericktown Fire Department will receive $30,935.80 to buy a CDAP chemical detection kit, which contains an Ahura First Defender™ . The handheld chemical identification instrument will be used in the field for identification of toxic industrial chemicals, narcotics, contraband, chemical weapons, and white powders. The First Defender is a completely self-contained analytical apparatus, with an embedded computer and display for software navigation and chemical analysis.
The kit also includes an MSA Sirius® Multigas Detector, which allows users to simultaneously monitor for volatile organic compounds while measuring for combustible, toxic and oxygen deficient atmospheres within one reliable, easy-to-use, durable unit. It can detect hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, combustible gas, and low oxygen levels.
“As everyone is aware, this time of year is big for carbon monoxide poisoning,” said Fire Chief John Clark. “Though you should have a detector in your home, this device will allow us to enter a hazardous area with a detection device to find a hazard in a much quicker fashion. Other Hazmat situations can be remedied in a much quicker fashion.”
City water and sewer staff will use the devices to check for a hazardous atmosphere before entering an area. The devices may be used throughout Madison County.
Ironton Fire Department
Ironton Fire Department’s grant is for $30,935.80. Fire Chief Don McClanahan referred questions about the grant to the assistant chief. However, the assistant chief, who handles all the department’s grants, was out of town on personal business and could not be reached for more information.
Ironton Police Department
The police department in Ironton will receive an $11,500 grant to be used for a video surveillance camera system.
The department is getting an XOA Series Portable Video Surveillance system and training to use it. The portable unit can be manned or unmanned to manage up to four cameras at once, according to a letter from the Department of the Army’s Electronic Proving Ground program manager Rafael Anton. It can zoom in for long range use and can be used day or night. The package includes a mobile video command center, day/night long range camera, two fixed focal length color Lipstick cameras, a black-and-white Lipstick Camera and a 40 G USB removable, external hard drive.
The equipment is appreciated by the department, Ironton Police Chief Ray Koch said.
“Any time that we can get an $11,000 piece of equipment for nothing, that’s $11,000 we’ve saved the community,” he added. “Any equipment that helps us fight crime will help the community.”
The camera can be used for undercover work or for surveillance in suspected drug trafficking areas,” Koch said. “You can sit off and take pictures and nobody will know you’re there.”
Madison County Sheriff’s Department
The grant for Madison County Sheriff’s Department is $11,794 and will be used for a thermal imager. The handheld unit detects temperature differences and creates an image of the object based on the heat. For example, if someone gets up from a chair, the unit will show an image outlining where the person was sitting. It can show the level of soda in a cup from outside the cup, said Sheriff David Lewis.
This will be the department’s second unit. The current imager allows detectives to take about a dozen photos to use as evidence.
“It is an invaluable tool. We’ve used it in methamphetamine labs to determine liquids in containers, or chemicals that are creating a ‘hot spot,’” Lewis said. “We’ve used them in the past for finding lost people or suspects.”
The units can be used day or night, and work much better than night vision equipment, Lewis said.
“They are a great tool,” he said.
Nationwide in FY 2007, a total of 3,709 CEDAP applications were submitted and 1,853 were accepted for award. This included 56 awards for the Incident Commander’s Radio Interface (ICRI) under the category of Interoperable Communications equipment. Of the 1,853 awards 1,389 (75 percent) were awarded to law enforcement agencies with the remainder awarded to fire departments, emergency medical service, emergency management and public safety.
Teresa Ressel provided some information for this story.
Paula Barr is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 172 or at pbarr@dailyjournalonline.com.
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Article Comments (1)The comments below are from readers and do not represent the views of the Daily Journal.
Nick Longo posted at Sunday, March 16th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I work for adt security and we provide User ID Control Password Maintenance Access Control Heat & Somke Seensors Temperature Monitors and Recorders Cameras Intrusion alarms systems. I would like to know the Grants that the Goverment is going to provide to the Colleges and Universites and when Thank you Nick Longo
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