The Wichita Fire Department has received a grant from the Department of Homeland Security for the 2020 Fiscal year totaling $63,217.01.
The grant was awarded through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program – COVID-19 Supplemental (AFG-S), which aims to provide funds for the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) and related supplies.
As a condition of the grant, the City must contribute non-federal funds equal or greater than 10% of the federal funds awarded, or $6,321.70, for a total budget of $69,538.71.
This grant program provides reimbursement for money that has already been spent to supply the WFD with PPE during this crisis. It also provides direct funding for future purchases of PPE to mitigate COVID-19.
PPE purchased with this grant could include gloves, respirators, safety glasses, protective coveralls and more. During the pandemic, PPE is paramount to ensuring the safety of firefighters and residents during emergencies.
AFG-S is one of three grant programs that constitute the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) focus on enhancing the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire and fire-related hazards. The AFG-S Program provides financial assistance directly to eligible fire departments, nonaffiliated emergency medical service (NAEMS) organizations, and State Fire Training Academies (SFTA) for critical Personal Protective Equipment and supplies needed to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
