FEMA Application Presents Compelling Statistics
Windsor, California (pop. 30,000) -- In 2003, Chief Ron Collier of the Windsor Fire Protection District in Windsor, California, worked with the District’s volunteer grant writer, Maureen Mason, to construct an appeal to FEMA for two thermal imagers and accessories. The department was awarded $20,000 in June, which was used to purchase two T3 thermal imagers, hard cases, battery packs, and cover training to help them incorporate the T3s into their fire attack and rescue program.
Demonstrating need: “We have 6 paid firefighters and 22 volunteers for a community of 30,000. In the past 10 years, the city of Windsor has more than doubled, and our calls have increased by 210% over that time. The cost of business went up by 161%. We explained our lack of local funding and the factors in the California economy that make it difficult for us to get the money we need to support operations.”
Justifying TIs: “We were able to demonstrate in our FEMA application that thermal imagers could help us quickly find fires, locate ejected victims after motor vehicle accidents, and more effectively respond to hazmat and wildland fire situations. We used this range of applications for thermal imagers to justify our need in the narrative.”
Keys to success: “Have your statistics, and show your unique need. It may not always be financial. One of our greatest needs is related to staffing, so we showed how thermal imagers could improve the timing of our responses.”
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