Last Updated on October 14, 2022 by Cass County Emergency Management Agency
LOGANSPORT, IN – The Cass County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) has been selected as the recipient of an Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) Grant in the amount of $5,620.00.
Funding provided to Cass County will provide additional equipment and textbook materials needed to offer a Hazardous Materials Technician course in early 2023 and additionally further enhance detection and monitoring capabilities of the Cass County Emergency Response Team.
Rocky Buffum, Director of the Cass County Emergency Management Agency, was excited to hear Cass County had been selected as the recipient of the funding. “Within the last several months we have added more than $13,000.00 of specialized detection and monitoring equipment to the Cass County Hazardous Materials Response arsenal without asking for additional appropriation of county tax dollars to do so. Grants, including significant support from local industry partners, have proven invaluable in our efforts for safer and more effective hazardous materials response in Cass County.”
Buffum further stated the capabilities added this year enable responders to identify and quantify hazards more accurately and from greater distances, resulting in better decision making and more effective implementation of protective actions for responders and the public when hazardous materials incidents occur.
Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) grants are awarded to Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) and are used to develop, improve and implement emergency plans; train public sector hazardous materials emergency response employees to respond to accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials in transportation; determine flow patterns of hazardous materials within a state and between states and determine the need within a state for regional hazardous materials emergency response teams.
To ensure that the funds are allocated to support the most effective hazardous materials transportation emergency response training and planning programs, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s Office of Hazardous Materials Safety grants program team continually examines and reevaluates the grant program processes and priorities.
SOURCE: News release from Cass County Emergency Management Agency