Clyde Avery, Marshall County Emergency Management Agency Director gave the County Commissioners an update on the various grants applied for and received.
The equipment from the 2013 State Homeland Security Program Grant has been purchased. Avery was able to obtain 11 portable amateur radios and computer equipment to provide a computer aided dispatch system for the Emergency Operations Center.
Marshall County also received $5,179.77 from the Emergency Management Program Competitive Grant and will purchase 3 computer tablets, emergency alert radios and preparedness hand-out material.
Marshall County EMA was unsuccessful in being awarded a $4,000 2014 Foundation Grant. Avery said he had hoped to conduct an emergency operation center exercise but won’t be able to do so with the funding.
Avery applied for a $25,000 Homeland Security Grant Program but has not received any updates.
The District 2 Coordinator recently notified Avery of funds being available to update the county Hazard Mitigation Plan which expires in February of 2015. He also received information from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security on the salary and benefit reimbursement. Avery was able to obtain 242 points on the IDHS EMA Assessment which makes Marshall County eligible for the 50% salary and benefit reimbursement for this year, payable in 2015.
In other business the Commissioners approved the request the Blueberry Festival to use the Emergency Operations Center from Thursday, August 28th through Monday, September 1st. Avery was also given approval to attend a 24 hour deployment exercise in Fulton county in September and the annual Emergency Management Alliance of Indiana Conference in Indianapolis in October.
