Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

Post Office Box 1340
Columbus, Georgia, 31902-1340
(706) 653-4013
fax (706) 653-4016

Council Members

Agenda Item _1_



Columbus Consolidated Government

Council Meeting

11/28/2007

Agenda Report # 212



TO: Mayor and Council



SUBJECT: 2007 Homeland Security Grant Program - West Central Georgia Search

and Rescue (GSAR) Team



INITIATED BY: Columbus Fire and EMS Department

________________________________________________________________________________

________



Recommendation: Approval is requested to accept a grant of $1,275,000.00, or

as otherwise awarded, from the 2007 Homeland Security Grant Program and amend

the Multi-Governmental Fund by like amount.

Background: Funds have been allocated to the 2007 Homeland Security Grant

Program for the formation of a West Central Georgia Search and Rescue (GSAR)

Team to improve responses to heavy rescue emergencies to the citizens of

Columbus and surrounding counties. Heavy search-and-rescue involves the

location, rescue (extrication), and initial medical stabilization of victims

trapped in confined spaces. Structural collapse is most often the cause of

victims being trapped, but victims may also be trapped in transportation

accidents, mines and collapsed trenches.

Currently in the state of Georgia, there are 3 other GSAR Teams. They are

located at:

Georgia SAR Coastal - Glynn County and City of Savannah

Georgia SAR Central - Macon/Bibb County and Houston County

Georgia SAR Metro - Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, and Clayton Counties, and

City of Atlanta

The department will receive an identical vehicle to the teams listed above, the

equipment to outfit the response units, and train 75 personnel in specialized

rescue operations. Each team member will undergo approximately 400 hours of

search and rescue training to receive certification. The GSAR teams will be

able to respond to incidents across the state under mutual aid, but the local

jurisdictions will own the vehicles and equipment. The goal of the GSAR teams

is to have a four-hour response capability anywhere in the state.

Analysis: The state will provide the requested vehicles and equipment and

additional funding for training



Financial Considerations: The grant is for equipment amounting to

$1,275,000.00, with no matching funds required.



Legal Considerations: The Columbus Consolidated Government is eligible to

receive these funds.



Recommendation/Action: Authorize the City Manager to accept a grant of

$1,275,000.00, or as otherwise awarded, from the 2007 Homeland Security Grant

Program.









A RESOLUTION



NO. ___________



A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT A GRANT OF

$1,275,000.00 OR AS OTHERWISE AWARDED, FROM THE 2007 HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT

PROGRAM AND AMEND THE MULTI-GOVERNMENTAL FUND BY LIKE AMOUNT. THESE FUNDS WILL

BE UTILIZED FOR THE FORMATION OF A WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA SEARCH AND RESCUE

(GSAR) TEAM TO IMPROVE RESPONSES TO HEAVY RESCUE EMERGENCIES TO THE CITIZENS OF

COLUMBUS AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES. HEAVY SEARCH AND RESCUE INVOLVES THE

LOCATION, RESCUE (EXTRICATION), AND INITIAL MEDICAL STABILIZATION OF VICTIMS

TRAPPED IN CONFINED SPACES. STRUCTURAL COLLAPSES IS MOST OFTEN CAUSE OF

VICTIMS BEING TRAPPED IN TRANSPORTATION ACCIDENTS, MINES AND COLLAPSED

TRENCHES.



WHEREAS, the Columbus Fire and Emergency Medical Services has been

approved by the Governors office to fund the GSAR team; and,



WHEREAS, the equipment requested in the grant proposal will greatly

enhance the current emergency response program; and,



WHEREAS, the funds have been allocated through the 2007 Homeland

Security Grant Program; and,



WHEREAS, the vehicle and equipment will be utilized to respond to heavy

rescue emergencies to Columbus and the surrounding counties; and,



WHEREAS, this grant proposal requires no matching funds.



NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA HERBY RESOLVES:



That the City Manager is hereby authorized to accept a Homeland

Security Grant of $1,275,000.00 from the 2007 Homeland Security Grant Program

and amend the Multi-Governmental Fund by $1,275,000.00 or the actual amount

awarded.



******

Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia

held the _______ day of ___________, 2007 and adopted at said meeting by the

affirmative vote of _______ members of said Council.



Councilor Allen voting ________

Councilor Anthony voting ________

Councilor Baker voting ________

Councilor Barnes voting ________

Councilor Davis voting ________

Councilor Henderson voting ________

Councilor Hunter voting ________

Councilor McDaniel voting ________

Councilor Pugh voting ________

Councilor Woodson voting ________





____________________ _______________________

Tiny B. Washington, Clerk Jim Wetherington, Mayor

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