FEMA Delivers Additional $10.5 Million to Help Fire Departments and Other First Responder Organizations in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska

This week, FEMA awarded more than $10.5 million in grant funding to fire departments, first responder organizations, and other institutions focused on firefighter safety and fire prevention in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. These awards will enable agencies to get the equipment, staff and support they need to carry out their critical, life-saving missions. This week's fire grant funding brings the total amount awarded to Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska this year to $25.4 million. Nationwide, FEMA awarded $648 million through its three fire grant programs.

"Firefighters and other first responders are everyday heroes, helping their neighbors and communities when they need it most," said FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton. "Through this grant funding, FEMA is building the capability of these local organizations to respond to disasters and emergencies. By empowering fire departments to get the staff, training and equipment they need, FEMA is strengthening the resilience of American communities nationwide."

FEMA is administering these funds through its Assistance to Firefighters Grants and its Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant program. Awards issued this week include:

• More than $3.8 million to the city of Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska, for the hiring of firefighters.
• More than $2.3 million to the Shawnee Heights Fire District in Tecumseh, Kansas, for the hiring of firefighters.
• More than $1.7 million to the Kansas State Association of Fire Chiefs in Lawrence, Kansas, for recruitment and retention.
• More than $1.3 million to the city of Olathe in Olathe, Kansas, to improve operations and safety.
• Nearly $1.3 million to the Metro North Fire Projection District in St. Louis, Missouri, for the hiring of firefighters.

For information on all the awards issued this year, visit the fire grant program webpages on FEMA.gov: the Assistance to Firefighters Grants, the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant program, and the Fire Prevention and Safety grant program.