Fire departments say Homeland Security cash flow, communication flawed

A year ago, the Homeland Security Act set up a program of grants to get money to those who would be first to respond to another terrorist act. But some fire departments are asking where the cash is. The fire chief of Arlington County, Va. – home to the Pentagon – and a representative of the Prince George’s County, Md., Fire and Emergency Medical Service Department, were among those testifying before a Senate panel Wednesday. They complained that the grant process is too complicated and that too little reaches the people who need the training and equipment. “The process needs to be streamlined,” said Capt. Chauncey Bowers of Prince George’s County. “If it can, local first responders will have personnel, training and equipment they need.” Arlington County Fire Chief Ed Plaugher said of the grant programs, “There’s no flexibility and the amount that comes out at the end of the stream is very small.” Full Story