City seeks FEMA grant for new ambulance
NORWICH – With the good fortune of obtaining FEMA grants in the past, the Norwich Fire Department is currently awaiting the approval of another that would allow the purchase a new ambulance without dipping into the city’s reserves.
This is the first year that FEMA has offered grant money for the purchase of a new ambulance, said Fire Chief Tracy Chawgo. Previously, FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant has provided the station with communications equipment, EKG monitors and other needed gear, but this will be the first time FEMA has recognized ambulance services as a primary component among fire departments, which is good news particularly in rural areas, said Chawgo.
“The amount in funding received depends on the needs of each individual department,” Chawgo said. He went on to say that like many other FEMA grant programs, “it’s a competitive process. Anyone doing fire and EMS in the US can apply for one.”
If approved, the city would be eligible to receive $180,000 toward the purchase of a new ambulance, not only saving the city the cost of a new ambulance, but also the additional costs of routine maintenance as it would be covered under warranty.
Rather than taking money from reserves, Mayor Joseph Maiurano said that grant approval would allow the city to put money into reserves that would otherwise be used toward the payments on a new ambulance.
“We’ve been pretty successful with these types of grants in the past,” said Maiurano. “A lot of them are really designed to get you on your feet.”
Regardless of the grant outcome, Chawgo said he hopes to replace the ambulance within the next year. He explained that loans and leasing are available and if not approved for grant money, the city would take a purchase option based on current financing.
Presently, the ambulance is functional and is only one of three that the city uses on a regular basis. “It’s still pretty reliable,” said Chawgo but the ten year old ambulance is consistently in need of repair.
“There are a lot of basic wear and tear issues. It’s just like any other vehicle that has to be replaced after a while,” Chawgo said.
The NFD tries to replace one ambulance every 3-5 years, sparing the city the burden of having to replace more than one at a time or having an unreliable ambulance service. Tracy said the last time the city replaced an ambulance was in 2007.
Right now, the Norwich Fire Department has the only ambulance service covering the City of Norwich, Town of Norwich, Preston, North Norwich and Plymouth.
“There hasn’t been enough business in the private sector to survive,” said Maiurano, “but we have a great service.”
This is the first year that FEMA has offered grant money for the purchase of a new ambulance, said Fire Chief Tracy Chawgo. Previously, FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant has provided the station with communications equipment, EKG monitors and other needed gear, but this will be the first time FEMA has recognized ambulance services as a primary component among fire departments, which is good news particularly in rural areas, said Chawgo.
“The amount in funding received depends on the needs of each individual department,” Chawgo said. He went on to say that like many other FEMA grant programs, “it’s a competitive process. Anyone doing fire and EMS in the US can apply for one.”
If approved, the city would be eligible to receive $180,000 toward the purchase of a new ambulance, not only saving the city the cost of a new ambulance, but also the additional costs of routine maintenance as it would be covered under warranty.
Rather than taking money from reserves, Mayor Joseph Maiurano said that grant approval would allow the city to put money into reserves that would otherwise be used toward the payments on a new ambulance.
“We’ve been pretty successful with these types of grants in the past,” said Maiurano. “A lot of them are really designed to get you on your feet.”
Regardless of the grant outcome, Chawgo said he hopes to replace the ambulance within the next year. He explained that loans and leasing are available and if not approved for grant money, the city would take a purchase option based on current financing.
Presently, the ambulance is functional and is only one of three that the city uses on a regular basis. “It’s still pretty reliable,” said Chawgo but the ten year old ambulance is consistently in need of repair.
“There are a lot of basic wear and tear issues. It’s just like any other vehicle that has to be replaced after a while,” Chawgo said.
The NFD tries to replace one ambulance every 3-5 years, sparing the city the burden of having to replace more than one at a time or having an unreliable ambulance service. Tracy said the last time the city replaced an ambulance was in 2007.
Right now, the Norwich Fire Department has the only ambulance service covering the City of Norwich, Town of Norwich, Preston, North Norwich and Plymouth.
“There hasn’t been enough business in the private sector to survive,” said Maiurano, “but we have a great service.”
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