West Virginia counties use federal grant money for interoperable communications | 10.03.2006 | 05:48:36 | Views: 5403 | ID: October 3 '06: West Virginia state officials have said federal homeland security grants for interoperable communications between first responder agencies, law enforcement and medical responders will be given to local governments, the Huntington Herald-Dispatch reported Tuesday. According to Huntington Fire Chief Greg Fuller, the federal grants "will make us a part of West Virginia's statewide communications network for emergency responders." The entire system will be completed in two years, Fuller added. According to the Herald-Dispatch, "The network will enable police, fire and other emergency responders to talk with their counterparts anywhere in the state," and total grants for the City of Huntington will be $169,200 while surrounding Cabell County's Commission will get $94,400 and its Office of Emergency Management will receive $51,071 for the Emergency Management Performance Grant. Earlier this year, West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller (D) held a first responder and emergency management conference focusing on interoperable communications and coordination in the state. At the 2-day conference, more than 300 attendees discussed ways to incorporate best practices and communications improvements to help homeland security and emergency response operations in the state. Other counties' emergency management offices to receive federal grant money for interoperable communications include: Lincoln County Emergency Management, $22,827; Mason County Emergency Management, $35,185; Putnam County Emergency Management, $53,994; Wayne County Commission, $145,587; Wayne County Emergency Management, $19,862 and Kanawha County Commission with $564,105.
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