Borough receives Homeland Security funds for emergency services

The Mat Su Borough Assembly has received and accepted more funding from the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management offices.

A grant was received in the amount of $27,000 to afford a Citizen Corps Coordinator. The program deals with education, training and volunteer services.

A grant in the amount of $174,000 was received to purchase more emergency equipment and afford training expenses for Borough emergency personnel.

Dennis Brodigan, director of emergency services, says that both grants are an annual expected income.  Homeland Security gives money to all boroughs in the form of grants in order to improve current emergency services.

Brodigan says that the money will go to upgrades in their emergency operations center, which becomes the base of operations in disasters or large emergencies.  The plan includes mobile radios for responders borough-wide, screens for the operations center and upgraded information technology computer software.  Another recipient of the grant is the citizen corps program which helps run the CERT program and the neighborhood watch.