Title
Consider/Discuss/Act on a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager, or Designee, to Accept and Implement an Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Program Grant Award from the Department of Homeland Security through the Office of the Governor (OOG) to Purchase Equipment to Enhance Special Teams Operations
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Safe and Secure Community and Operational Excellence
MEETING DATE: October 19, 2021
DEPARTMENT: Fire Department, Emergency Management
CONTACT: Karen Adkins, Emergency Manager
Robert Alley, Assistant Fire Chief of Operations
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
• Approval of Resolution to accept and implement the grant award to fund purchase of equipment to enhance Specialty Teams.
ITEM SUMMARY:
• The UASI program focus is to support state and local efforts to prevent terrorism and other catastrophic events and to prepare the Nation for the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk to our security.
• Funding for this project will come from the reallocation of remaining regional FY2019 UASI funds.
• This project will help fund equipment required to operationalize a Swiftwater/Floodwater Search and Rescue Team capable of shore-based and boat-based water rescue to include transport of humans and animals to the nearest location for secondary land or air transport, support urban search and rescue in water environments, respond to water based hazardous materials incidents, and potentially locate and retrieve human remains.
• McKinney Fire Department seeks to increase operational readiness and response capabilities by providing a rapidly deployable Swiftwater/Floodwater Search and Rescue Team.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• McKinney Fire Department is a primary response and/or mutual aid agency for the North Texas Municipal Water District (TMWD), Lake Lavon, and the newly constructed Bois d’Arc Lake located northeast of McKinney. In the event a terrorist attack or other major incident occurred involving the TMWD or one of the countless number of dams/levees, major rivers, and waterways in North Texas, multiple Swiftwater/Floodwater Search and Rescue Teams may be deployed within the region.
• The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) 2020 Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR) denotes that the 16-county region has a capability gap for search and rescue equipment, specifically boats and their operators. This project will help address that specific capability gap in the NCTCOG region.
• McKinney Fire Department currently employs 42 swiftwater technicians, 5 boat operators, and 5 boat bowman capable of serving the water-based search and rescue team. Acquisition of this equipment along with funding McKinney will receive from the FY2021 UASI allotment will allow McKinney Fire Department to fully operationalize its Swiftwater/Floodwater Search and Rescue Team.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
• There is no match required for this grant.
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
• N/A