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| The Monterey County Grant Approval Authority |
In 2003, the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security mandated that if a County (AKA an Operational Area) decided to apply for a Homeland Security Grant, the Operational Area must appoint an Anti-Terrorism Approval Body (to be known hereafter as the Grant Approval Authority (GAA)).
This Approval Authority has the final determination on the Operational Area (OA) allocation of grant funds for this program. The Monterey County Office of Emergency Services (the brokers of the grant funds) brought this program before the Board of Supervisors on behalf of our stakeholders and has been participating in the Homeland Security Program for the past twelve years.
The Approval Authority consists of the following members:
County Public Health Officer - Monterey County Health Director Ray Bullick
County Fire Chief or Chief of Fire Authority - North County Fire Chief Chris Orman
Municipal Fire Chief – Salinas Fire Chief Edmond A. Rodriguez
County Sheriff - Monterey County Sheriff Scott Miller
Chief of Police - Marina Police Chief Edmundo Rodriguez
Information on the grant: The State Homeland Security Grant Program
The State Homeland Security Grant Program supports the implementation of the State Homeland Security Strategy to address the identified planning, equipment, training and exercise needs for acts of terrorism and supports the implementation of the National Preparedness System: the National Incident Management Systems (NIMS). All 50 states in the US can apply to FEMA each year on behalf of the counties within their state for this program.
For the past three years, the GAA has focused on maintaining the primary goals and objectives set forth for the Operational Area: Training and Exercise, sustainability among the specialized teams, maintenance agreements, service agreements, user fees, and replacement of equipment that has expired or has become obsolete in technology.
2014 Proposals
For FY/2014, the GAA received a total of thirteen proposals that totaled $946,014, but only was allotted $507,202 in grant funds.
The GAA had a tough task before them and needed to make decisions on which proposals would be funded and which proposal(s) will be placed on the “below the line list”.
On May 28th, all thirteen applicants had 5-7 minutes to present their grant proposal and convince the GAA on why it should be funded. (All thirteen proposals were evaluated and screened by the OES Grant Administrator in order to make the final phase of the grant process). The final phase was the proposal presentation to the GAA.
The proposals funded for FY/2014 were the following:
1. Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) - Upgrade/Sustainment Equipment for a total of $32,600
Four Gas Monitors for a Confined Rescue Space or collapsed building response for victims trapped during a disaster and two Seismic/Acoustic Listening Devices along with replacement wear and items needed for deployment. The two listening devices are an upgrade to an outdated camera. The new listening device will allow this specialized team to locate and communicate with victims trapped in inaccessible areas.
The three USAR teams started in 2004 with federal funding. These USAR Teams are from Monterey County Regional Fire, North County Fire, and Monterey Fire. These regional teams have been involved with multiple regional exercises, which include the yearly Urban Shield Exercise. Since 2004 this team has balanced their awarded funds evenly on equipment, sustainment costs, and exercises.
2. Salinas Police Security Gate
Their proposal met all the criteria, but was added to below the line list (not funded).
3. Salinas Police Department S.W.A.T. Tactical Bullet Proof Vests 17 vest total $40,520
Upgrade from older, heavier vests with minimum protection to newer vests. The newer vest has added superior protection, including versatile ballistic protection for the shoulder, neck, bicep, and groin.
4. Salinas Police Department S.W.A.T –The AVATAR Security Robot total $27,955
The device is considered an upgrade to the existing rolling camera they use now that has very limited ability during a mission. The AVATAR III remote robot has a customized platform, can pass vertical barriers greater than 10” in height, and will allow the team to safely inspect dangerous situations without putting anyone in harm’s way.
5. Sheriff Search and Rescue Cache Equipment total $13,732
Replacement items to sustain the team with such things as ropes, pulleys, carabiners, fire/rescue tools, spools, and small hardware. These are used to sustain the team for deployment within Monterey County and within the region.
6. Sheriff Bomb Squad Sustainment Equipment total $25,000
This consists of bomb robot batteries, shock tubes etc. This Bomb Squad handles all bomb calls in Monterey County and San Benito County. This team trains twice a month, and has an average of 50 calls a year.
7. Interoperability Committee-Mobile Communications Task Force Equipment total $38,400
Communications equipment for deployment during a disaster such as satellite radios, cellular extenders, radio routers and a maintenance kit. This Task Force is the team that deploys when the Incident Command (during a disaster or a major incident) requests communication coverage due to complexity of the event. The team’s function is to provide voice and data communications along with mesh networks in all areas for public safety
8. Hazardous Material Team- Rapid Deployment Detector Kit-Total $82,976
This monitor can wirelessly monitor toxic chemical levels at the point of toxin release and at locations remote from the leak. The Monterey County Operational Hazardous Material Team is made up of the Salinas Fire Department, Seaside Fire, and the Monterey County Environmental Department. With Salinas Fire taking the lead, this team has advanced from a Type 3 team to an elite Type 2 team. This team covers incidents regardless of whether it has rural or city area jurisdictional boundaries, and will soon be covering the San Benito County area because they do not have a HazMat team.
9. Salinas Fire-Mobile Command Unit Sustainment Cost total $15,350
To maintain the services for data and voice networks. This communications unit is a great asset to all public safety agencies. They serve as a mobile 9-1-1 center back up, a mobile EOC, and a C.O.W. Unit (Communications on Wheels) during major events and can be deployed to anywhere in Cal OES Region 2.
10. Three--Law Proposals for the Monterey Peninsula Special Response Team
Project 1- $44,000-Ballistic helmets
Project 2- $17,000 Voice, data and Satellite equipment for the existing unit that was purchased in a previous grant
Project 3- An Armored Bearcat Vehicle - $265,000.
Projects 1 and 2 were funded. Project 3 was placed on the Below the Line list. The ballistic helmets were to replace an older version and are considered an upgrade. The communications equipment was necessary in order to communicate among the teams during an incident.
11. Monterey County Training and Exercise Committee total $144,395
This committee represents all the specialized teams such as the HazMat team, Bomb Squad, Urban Search and Rescue, Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, all three S.W.A.T teams, Monterey Fire Boat team, the Sheriff’s Dive team, Mobile Field Force, and the Communications section, etc. This committee meets monthly and decides what training is needed in order to stay in compliance and oversee the re-certification needs. This sub-committee was created and empowered by the Grant Approval Authority. Training and Exercise is crucial in order to maintain specialized teams, and continuous training is needed in order to be deployment ready during a disaster.
The GAA made their decisions based on need, the guidelines of this year’s grant, and what’s in the best interest of the Operational Area, the entire Region, the State, and to better protect our community.
From the perspective of the Office of Emergency Services, we say WELL DONE Grant Approval Authority, and thank you for helping to make our community a safer, more prepared place to work and live.
For more information, see our Grants page at http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/oes/homeland-sec.asp
Thank you to Bertha Simpson, Monterey County OES Planner/Grant Administrator, for the content of this post.
