February 28, 2007

Just wanted to give everyone a update on the SOSINK Grant process as it
moved to the final
proposal request stage. Of course SOSINK is Southern Ohio, Southern
Indiana, Northern
Kentucky Homeland Security Region for the UASI. USAI is the Urban or
Regional Homeland
security region which is made up of 12 counties.

For about a month now the discipline based subcommittees of the SOSINK
Steering Committee
have been studying and putting together funding proposals. For sake of
time I'm only going to
address those areas where Butler County will be directed effected by
the funding. 

OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS: In recent weeks county EMA's were looking at
the possibility
of seeking funds to purchase outdoor warning sirens for communities. We
were thinking of
requesting in the area of $3 million dollars to help upgrade the siren
systems across the region.
However, the need far exceeded our limits as to possible funding. At
our last count we were on
the plus side of $6 million and the request for sirens were continuing
to come in. For that reason
the EMA Subcommittee withdrew the request for funds for Outdoor Warning
Sirens. 

COMMUNICATIONS: Our Project Managers for the 800 MHZ Radio System had
prepared and
presented a request for $1,482,566.00 which had until yesterday made
it's way through the
Communications Subcommittee and also through the first round of cuts by
the Steering
Committee. However yesterday, Butler County agreed to reduce that
request to $85,044.00. That
amount was approved by the Steering Committee yesterday.

TECHNICAL RESCUE: The Butler County Technical Rescue Team has requested
$130,000.00
through the USAR Subcommittee. That amount was approved by the Steering
Committee
yesterday.

HAZMAT: While the exact amount is not known our HazMat Coop has
requested funding
through their HAZMAT Subcommittee for equipment. That request was also
approved by the
Steering Committee.

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER (EOC): Butler County EMA has submitted a
request
for $423,606.00 to assist in the construction of an EOC which can
backup the Cincinnati-
Hamilton County Regional EOC. This requested was approved by the EMA
Subcommittee and
that amount was approved by the Steering Committee yesterday.

MASS CARE: Butler County EMA on behalf of the county EMA Directors
submitted a proposal
with the EMA Subcommittee to purchase twelve (12) Mass Care Trailers
(one per county). Each
trailer will be loaded with 150 cots and blankets; folding tables and
chairs. These trailers will be
used for emergency shelters and total cost is $136,800.00. That amount
was approved by the
Steering Committee yesterday.

I would caution that this is the "request" phase of the grant
writing. In other words this is what
will be requested from DHS. The total request for funds is slightly
over $15 million dollars. We
have no idea how much funding will actually be awarded. 

William R. Turner
Director
Butler County Emergency Management Agency
315 High Street, Suite 670
Hamilton, OH  45011
513-785-5810
513-785-5811 Fax
www.butlercountyohio.org/ema