Tifton officials working to make first responders first class - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Tifton officials working to make first responders first class

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March 3, 2004

Tifton -- In case of a catastrophe, Tift County wants to be ready. The Emergency Management Authority recently submitted the first round of budget requests they hope will point them in the right direction of making Tifton County EMA second to none.

These are the spaces used to house emergency response equipment that Tift county officials hope to filled soon. "We wanted to build an EMA here that is second to none that can handle any of these emergencies," says Buddy Byran chairman of the Tift County Commission.

EMA is the city and the county's first responders to catastrophic events that can threaten lives like tornado or chemical spills. Having the right equipment and people are critical. For city and county officials doing the best job meant bring it strongest forces together.

"What the two governments decided to do was combine the EMA under the sheriff's department,"says Bryan.

Now the county says it's preparing to pump more money into EMA. EMA will soon submit a budget to expand it current program, add more workers and equipment all while putting the county in a better position to lobby for federal dollars.

"If your going to apply for grants from the homeland security administration or other homeland security agencies you have to have the vehicles in place to apply,"says Bryan

Putting things in place now to make the first responders are better able to do the important job of the saving lives. 

The head of the EMA says the department is collecting information how much it will need for the next fiscal year to make Tifton EMA ready for the future. The city and the county will split the departments expenses

posted at 6:01PM by scott.hunter@walb.com