Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $707,480 in federal funding for the East Rockaway Fire Department. These federal dollars will be used by the East Rockaway Fire Department to recruit additional first responders. The funding is allocated through the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program.
“This is a great investment for East Rockaway,” Senator Gillibrand said. “This federal investment will help improve the fire department’s ability to respond and keep families safe. I will continue working to ensure our first responders have the tools and resources they need to keep our communities safe.”
“The Fire Department has once again proved their ability win competitive grants for the betterment of the residents of our Village,” said Francis P. Lenahan, Mayor, Village of East Rockaway. “This is the eighth consecutive year that the Fire Department’s Grant committee has been successful in being awarded a U.S Department of Homeland Security Grant. In total, the Fire Department has been awarded in excess $1.8 million in grants. These federally funded grants allow the Fire Department to recruit and retain volunteer members, and to procure essential equipment while keeping the cost burden away from our local taxpayer. I commend the Fire Department for this outstanding achievement.”
The SAFER program, established by DHS, is part of an effort to help fire departments across the country increase the number of firefighters in our communities, including re-hiring those that lost their jobs during the economic crisis. This program awards federal funding to fire departments to help them provide round-the-clock staffing to their communities from dangerous fire-related hazards.
In February of this year, the East Rockaway Fire Department also received $73,036 in federal funding through the Assistance the Firefighters Grant Program. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, established by DHS, is part of an effort to increase the nation’s emergency response preparation. This program provides federal funding to first responder organizations for the acquisition of personal protective equipment, firefighting vehicles, and emergency response equipment. The funds also help provide emergency response training to firefighters.