First responders in Lane County, OR, will soon receive $1 million in federal funding to help them improve emergency communications resources. Rep. Val Hoyle (D-OR) spearheaded the effort to secure the community response funding, reports KMTR-TV.
“It is my job to make sure that the federal tax dollars that Oregonians send to Washington, D.C. come back here to invest in the priorities that each community sets,” said Hoyle. “Fundamentally, I think that our tax dollars should come back here, and get to work on what’s important to our communities as opposed to being sent to a different state.”
Severe weather emergencies over the past few years have highlighted the need for better digital equipment for first responders, according to KMTR-TV. An ice storm revealed gaps in coverage that rescue crews noted were dangerous for both the public, and the emergency responders dispatched to assist them. The federal funding will flow through the Community Project Funding Request Program to help build a new radio tower and pay for upgraded radio units.
“These new portable radios secured with this grant will allow us to talk across three bands. We will get true interoperability with law enforcement, all the fire agencies, [and] emergency operations centers,” stated South Lane Fire District Chief John Wooten. “It’s unbelievable what this technology is going to bring to us in terms of safety.”
Hoyle and her team have identified 15 other projects to address in the near future, including emergency radio equipment needed in Douglas County, and fire station improvements in Lincoln County. “These 15 projects reflect the priorities of local communities who know their needs best,” said Hoyle. “If funded, these projects will support the construction of affordable housing, promote workforce development, advance public safety and more.”
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