Title
Emergency Management, Preparedness, and Assistance (EMPA) Trust Fund (Part A): Emergency Management Competitive Grant Program - FY08 (NB)
This item requests that the Commission permit Gainesville Fire Rescue to apply for an EMPA Trust Fund Competitive Grant through its Risk Reduction Bureau for a Combination Fire Sprinkler/Emergency Preparedness Mobile Training Vehicle. There is no match requirement for this grant.
Explanation
Gainesville Fire Rescue is seeking financial assistance from the Florida Dept. of Community Affairs, EMPA Trust Fund (Part A) to purchase a Combination Fire Sprinkler/Emergency Preparedness Mobile Training Vehicle. This vehicle will be used to support a new program titled the Comprehensive Risk Reduction Program (CRRP), which will expand the City's existing educational offerings for: adults - fire extinguisher training and evacuation plan training for commercial businesses; organizations & institutions - to include aggressive smoke detector installations for low income homeowners; In-Home all-hazard Safety and Disaster Preparedness/Post Event self-sufficiency education (community-wide - but with a focus on the elderly and at-risk populations); and in the advocacy of residential fire sprinklers. This state-of-the-art apparatus will include a Weather Smart package that simulates severe weather in an educational setting and will teach children and adults to recognize severe weather alerts and understand the need for severe weather and other emergency situation pre-planning. On-board wireless laptops will give even the most disadvantaged citizens access to the State's preparedness website, www.disaster.org <http://www.disaster.org>, at which they will be guided by GFR staff in creating individualized personal and family disaster pre-plans. With the Combination Fire Sprinkler/Emergency Preparedness Mobile Training Vehicle, GFR will have a great impact on the citizens of greatest risk, including children, the elderly and those people with special needs. GFR's ultimate goal for this apparatus is to use it as a tool to help these at-risk groups realize the importance of fire safety, what precautions and safety measures they need to practice in preparation for weather and other emergency situations, and the effectiveness of residential sprinkler systems.
Fiscal Note
The total cost of the project is estimated to be $104,449; there is no match obligation for this grant.
Recommendation
The City Commission authorize the City Manager to: 1) apply for the Emergency Management, Preparedness, and Assistance (EMPA) Trust Fund (Part A): Emergency Management Competitive Grant; and if awarded 2) execute the grant award contract and other necessary documents, pending approval by the City Attorney as to form and legality; and 3) approve the required payments process for expending the grant funds.
Alternate Recommendation A: The City decline to authorize GFR's application for the EMPA Trust Fund Grant and maintain its current program service level, which does not currently include community-wide emergency preparedness training and residential fire sprinkler advocacy.