HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/04/2003, C8 - GRANT APPLICATION FOR YOUTH & SENIOR HAZARD PREVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAM council NRnneD, I1-4-03
j agcnba Repom
C I T Y O F SAN L U I S O B I S P O
FROM: Wolfgang Knabe,Fire Chief
Prepared By: Viv R Dilts, Administrative Analyst,
Tracy Ferguson, Fire Inspector III & Molly Brown,Fire Inspector I
SUBJECT: GRANT APPLICATION FOR YOUTH & SENIOR HAZARD
PREVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAM
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Authorize staff to submit a grant application in the amount of$20,000 to the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) under the Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program to assist in
funding the Fire Department's Youth and Senior Hazard Prevention Education Program.
DISCUSSION
Hazard Prevention Education Program
Over the past two years the Fire Department has developed a Senior Safety Education Program.
This program received input from several organizations directly involved with seniors, including
the Public Health Department, Adult Protective Services, and the Economic Opportunity
Commission (EOC). It focuses on a number of topics, all of which are designed to help those in
their later years enjoy a better quality of life. The program currently has three classes, which
include topics ranging from home hazards to when to call 9-1-1.. Fire engine companies, the Fire
Prevention Bureau, and Police Department personnel will be offering these classes at locations
where seniors gather, such as mobile home parks, senior centers, etc. This program will be
expanded to include Fire Department personnel checking smoke alarms to ensure they are
operational and distributing and installing smoke alarms as needed. Although developed, the
program has not been fully implemented due to lack of funding.
If grant funding is received, an opportunity exists to expand our current Hazard Prevention
Education Program to include 5'grade students. Specifically, this program would include:
1. Conducting fire prevention safety classes taught by Fire Department personnel at the various
schools followed up with homework assignments.
2. Teaching disaster preparedness skills modeled after the Community Emergency Response
Training Program (CERT). These skills will be modified to meet the needs of children under
the age of 14.
1
1
Grant Application for Youth and Hazard Prevention Education Program Page 2
3. Instructing children to plan and practice escape routes as well as conduct home fire safety
inspections.
4. Distributing and installing smoke alarms as well as checking to ensure alarms are operational.
Grant Background
State and federal grants are occasionally offered to assist local governments with the financial
impacts associated with daily operations and/or mandated programs. FEMA's Fire Prevention
and Safety Grant Program is one of these programs. The purpose of this particular program is to
provide assistance to state, regional, national or local organizations to address the issues of fire
prevention and firefighter safety. The primary goal is to address at-risk target groups (children
under 14 and adults over 65).
In fiscal year 2003, Congress appropriate $750 million to carry out the activities of the Fire
Prevention and Safety Grant Program. The Department is requesting approval to apply for a
$20,000 grant from the Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program to be used to purchase smoke
alarms, disaster preparedness kits for children and pay for printing educational brochures, etc
FISCAL IMPACT
If the City receives the $20,000 grant, there is a 10% matching grant component ($2000).
Matching funds are available in the Fire Department's current operating budget.
ALTERNATIVES
The Council could decide not to pursue the grant monies. Without these funds, the youth
program will not be implemented and the senior program will be limited.
G:/Council Agenda Reports/CAR-2003 FEMA Prevention Grant Program