FUNDING AWARDED TO NORTHWEST MISSOURI FOR EMERGENCY SERVICE PROGRAMS

ST. JOSEPH, May 19, 2008—The Region H Homeland Security Oversight Committee (HSOC), a local group organized by Governor Blunt to provide a seamless approach to emergency planning and response, has been awarded $485,920 for projects within northwest Missouri. The HSOC, one of nine committees covering the entire state, serves the counties of Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, and Worth. This is the second year that local representatives have been charged with distributing federal homeland security funds to local jurisdictions, with the expressed aim of addressing the preparedness and response of the region as a whole. A regional approach to homeland security not only eliminates unnecessary duplication of services, but also provides the greatest return on investment for limited federal funding.

This year, the Region H HSOC received 37 requests for funding from local jurisdictions in northwest Missouri, totaling more than $750,000. Of those requests, the committee selected 27 projects to be recommended for at least partial funding. The selections, which were made at the HSOC’s January meeting and approved by the Governor’s Advisory Committee in May, were based on five funding priorities set by the Missouri Office of Homeland Security: Strengthening 9-1-1 and Interoperable Communications as it relates to 9-1-1, Agriculture Risk Mitigation, Mass Sheltering and Volunteer/Donations, Interoperable Communications, and Medical Surge. Awarded projects include the continuation of several contracted positions within northwest Missouri, including an agri-terrorism planner, a mass sheltering specialist, and an emergency services training coordinator. A majority of the funding was awarded to local emergency service providers for a wide range of portable and mobile radios that improve communications not only locally, but also between jurisdictions and departments at a regional level.

For more information regarding the HSOC or to view a complete list of funded projects, please visit www.missouriregionh.com or contact HSOC Chair Steve Groshong, Heartland Health or Community Development Director Jackie Spainhower, Mo-Kan Regional Council.

$471,342 in Region H Homeland Security Grants Now Available

ST. JOSEPH, October 19, 2007—The Region H Homeland Security Oversight Committee (HSOC) announces $471,342 in federal homeland security grant funds, available to local jurisdictions in the counties of Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, and Worth.  Funding categories for the 2007 grant cycle include Agriculture Risk Management, Medical Surge, Mass Sheltering and Volunteer Management, Interoperable Communications, and Interoperable Communication as Related to 9-1-1.   Jurisdictions interested in requesting further information or an application may do so by contacting Jackie Spainhower at the Mo-Kan Regional Council at jwilson@mo-kan.org or by visiting www.missouriregionh.com.

In an effort to maximize the return on investments of future homeland security grants in Missouri, Governor Blunt, early in his administration, realized the need to improve the way homeland security grant funds were administered and spent.  He empowered the State Homeland Security Advisory Council to authorize jurisdictions and governmental agencies at the most basic level to provide input into how these federal dollars will be spent.  Based on Highway Patrol Troop Area geographic boundaries, nine Regional Oversight Committees were created across the state to assist with this process.  These regional committees make recommendations to the Homeland Security Advisory Council for program and equipment priorities. 
           
Within Region H, 16 core disciplines are represented on the Oversight Committee, including emergency management, police, sheriff, fire, EMS, county, city, public works, 9-1-1 coordinators, Homeland Security Response Team, volunteer organizations, public utilities/private industry, county health, agriculture, hospitals and elementary and secondary schools.  The Oversight Committee is also comprised of ex-officio representatives from various state agencies, including State Highway Patrol, Division of Fire Safety, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Department of Transportation, State Water Patrol, Air National Guard, Homeland Security and the State Emergency Management Agency.
           
Applications are due to Mo-Kan Regional Council no later than 5 p.m., Tuesday, November 20, 2007.  Local requests will be reviewed by subcommittee members of the Region H HSOC, who will identify local priorities, capabilities, and coordinate regional programs and activities.  Final recommendations will be presented to the HSOC in January with a formal request submitted to the State in February.  It is anticipated that funds will be awarded in April of 2008.

For additional information, please contact Jackie Spainhower at the Mo-Kan Regional Council, 816-233-3144 or visit www.missouriregionh.com.

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OVER $892,000 IN PROJECTS RECOMMENDED TO ENHANCE NORTHWEST MISSOURI EMERGENCY RESPONSE

ST. JOSEPH, January 8, 2007-The newly-formed group responsible for promoting a regional, seamless approach to emergency planning and response in northwest Missouri has made the first funding recommendations to Governor Matt Blunt for new equipment purchases, training, and other security assets. The Region H Homeland Security Oversight Committee (HSOC), one of nine committees covering the entire state, serves the northwest Missouri counties of Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, and Worth. Last September, Governor Blunt charged the Region H HSOC with distributing just over $892,000 in federal homeland security funds to local jurisdictions, with the expressed aim of addressing the preparedness and response of the region as a whole. A regional approach to homeland security not only eliminates unnecessary duplication of services, but also provides the greatest return on investment for limited federal funding.

The Region H HSOC received 60 requests for funding from local jurisdictions around northwest Missouri, totaling more than $2.5 million. Of those requests, the committee selected 42 projects to be recommended for at least partial funding. The selections, which were made at the HSOC's December meeting, were based on four funding priorities set by the Missouri Office of Homeland Security: Agriculture Risk Mitigation, Volunteer and Donations, Mass Care, and Interoperable Communications. Recommended projects include mass care trailers to be used throughout the region, hiring an agro-terrorism expert for northwest Missouri, and a wide range of portable and mobile radios that improve communications not only within a local jurisdiction, but also between jurisdictions and departments at a regional level. The majority of funds are recommended to be used to improve interoperable communications throughout northwest Missouri.

The recommendations of the Region H HSOC will be presented to the Governor's Homeland Security Advisory Council in the upcoming months, which will then make the final approval for the homeland security projects. For more information regarding the HSOC or future homeland security grant funds, contact HSOC Chair Corey Sloan, Cameron Police Department, at cpdsloan@centurytel.net or Community Development Director Jackie Wilson, Mo-Kan Regional Council, at jwilson@mo-kan.org.

Homeland Security Projects Recommended for Funding by the Region H HSOC
Projects to Benefit Entire Region
Region H $18,000 Communications package for mass care trailer
Region H $107,236 Mass care trailer (field medical)
Region H $97,592 Five mass care trailers (food & water distribution)
Region H $52,016 Provision of regional agro-terrorism expert
Region H $38,000 Training Coordinator
Region H $4,125 Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Training

Andrew County
Andrew County Public Works $9,000 Five mobile radios
Andrew County Sheriff $7,641 Five mobile radios
Andrew County Emergency Management $21,600 Twelve mobile radios
City of Savannah (fire) $5,400 Three mobile radios

Buchanan County
South Central Buchanan (fire) $20,000 One talk station each for Agency, Gower, DeKalb, and Faucett
Buchanan County Sheriff $16,000 Four portable radios (800 mHz digital)
City of St. Joseph (police) $15,034 ACU-1000

Caldwell County
City of Hamilton (police) $12,964 Four portable and two mobile radios
Caldwell County Sheriff $11,856 Five mobile radios

Clinton County
Clinton County Emergency Management $34,476 Two mobile and 21 portable radios
City of Cameron (police) $5.030 Five tactical headsets
City of Cameron (fire) $43,409 Two receiver sites, 10 mobile radios
Clinton County Sheriff $28,004 Six mobile and eight portable radios
City of Holt (fire) $13,544 Eight mobile radios

Daviess County
Daviess County Sheriff $12,772 Five mobile radios

DeKalb County
City of Union Star (police) $5,042 Two mobile radios
City of Union Star (fire) $14,400 Eight mobile radios
DeKalb County Public Works $9,684 Four mobile radios
Central DeKalb (fire) $32,080 Eight mobile and twelve portable radios
DeKalb County Emergency Management $6,624 Two mobile and two portable radios
Southwest DeKalb (fire) $12,472 Eight mobile radios

Grundy County
Grundy County Sheriff $14,318 Four mobile and four portable radios
Grundy County / City of Trenton $29,353 Two base stations

Harrison County
Harrison County / City of Bethany $10,222 Two mobile and two portable radios

Holt County
Holt County Public Works $7,200 Four mobile radios
Northwest Holt (fire) $5,400 Three mobile radios
City of Maitland (fire) $5,400 Three mobile radios
Holt County Sheriff $5,880 Four portable radios

Livingston County
City of Lock Springs $3,092 Two mobile radios
Livingston County Sheriff $16,326 Four mobile and three portable radios
City of Chillcothe (EMS) $29,200 Nine mobile and five portable radios

Mercer County
Mercer County EMS $20,802 Six mobile and six portable radios

Nodaway County
City of Parnell (fire) $3,600 Two mobile radios
Nodaway County / City of Maryville $58,065 Two control stations and a fixed repeater

Worth County
City of Grant City (police) $1,559 One mobile radio
Worth County Sheriff $1,559 One mobile radio

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Missouri’s Homeland Security Looks to Regionalization to Maximize Future Federal Grants

JEFFERSON CITY, August 23, 2006— In an effort to maximize the return on investments of future homeland security grants in Missouri, Gov. Matt Blunt, early in his administration, realized the need to improve the way we spent our homeland security grant money.

“The more we engage local jurisdictions to participate in a cohesive regional
effort, the greater impact our future Homeland Security grants will have to protect our citizens,” said Mark James, Director of Department of Public Safety. “This will become especially important this fall, when homeland security grants are awarded to each region.”

The governor empowered his Homeland Security Advisory Council to further
authorize jurisdictions and governmental agencies at the most basic level to have input into how vital federal dollars are spent. Through Executive Order 06-09, Gov. Blunt established the concept of Regional Homeland Security Oversight Committees (RHSOC), to bring his vision to reality.

The Missouri Office of Homeland Security (MHS), working with the State
Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and a select number of Missouri’s Regional Planning Commissions (RPC’s), have been organizing these committees around the state. The committees are designed to first on a regional basis, and then collectively as a state, embrace a seamless, unified approach to future planning, training, and equipment purchases.

Over several months, SEMA Deputy Director Duane Nichols, and Homeland
Security Coordinator Paul Fennewald met with various first responder agencies, emergency management directors, local elected officials, and Missouri Association of Councils of Government (MACOG) staff. The meetings allowed participants to
familiarize themselves with the regionalization concept, as well as the roles and
responsibilities of the various partners. These partners were asked for input on making this process better, and many of their suggestions were adopted for the final template of the Committees.

“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security encourages states to regionalize
their Homeland Security efforts. Missouri is at the forefront of creating this more effective regional model,” said Randy Railsback, President of the MACOG and Executive Director of the Green Hills Regional Planning Commission.

Based on the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop Area geographic boundaries, the nine Regional Oversight Committees will identify local priorities, capabilities, and coordinate program activities within their region. As one body, the committee will make recommendations to Missouri’s Homeland Security Advisory Council for program and equipment priorities. Each Oversight Committee is comprised of representatives from various jurisdictions and non-voting ex-officio state agencies. The RPC provides
administrative and fiscal support to each Regional Oversight Committee.

The thirteen core disciplines represented in Regional Oversight Committee are: Director of Emergency Management, Police Chief, Sheriff, Fire Chief, County Health, Homeland Security Response Team, City or County Public Works, Mayor or City Administrator, County Commissioner, Private Industry/Public Utility, Emergency Medical Service, 911, Volunteer Group Representation.

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