HeaterMeals Available Through Five Grants
If you’re a part of the Law Enforcement / Public Safety sector, you know how important the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) can be to a local or state agency. The funds made available through these programs are typically used to purchase needed equipment or supplies, items that normally might not be purchased because of tight operating budgets.
The FEMA website describes the HSGP as “…a primary funding mechanism for building and sustaining national preparedness capabilities…Together, these programs fund a range of preparedness activities, including planning, organization, equipment purchase, training, exercises and management and administration.”
Buying equipment and supplies with these federal funds is nothing new. However, this year, local and state agencies can now buy “Critical Emergency Supplies” through these FEMA/Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant programs HeaterMeals Self-Heating Meals and Meal Kits are considered “Critical Emergency Supplies,” and can be purchased through federal grants, such as those detailed below.
Selected urban areas can receive funds from the Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program (RCPGP). This program was created “…to enhance catastrophic incident preparedness” in those “11 pre-designated high-risk, high-consequence urban areas.” The program “…is intended to support coordination of regional all-hazard planning for all catastrophic events, including the development of integrated planning communities, plans, protocols, and procedures to manage a catastrophic event.”
The Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) is designed “…to supplement and expand ongoing efforts to provide shelter, food and supportive services for the nation’s hungry, homeless, and people in economic crisis.”
The Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) will “…assist state and local governments in enhancing and sustaining all-hazards emergency management capabilities.”
The mission of the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) is “…to build capabilities at the state and local levels to implement the state homeland security goals and objectives identified in the State Preparedness Report. The 9/11 Act requires states to dedicate 25 percent of SHSP funds to law enforcement terrorism prevention-oriented planning, organization, training, exercise and equipment activities.”
Finally, the intent of the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) is “…to enhance regional preparedness by strengthening capabilities in 64 high-threat, high-density urban areas across the country. The 9/11 Act requires states to dedicate 25 percent of UASI funds to law enforcement terrorism prevention-oriented activities.”
The grant funds will be released to each of the 50 State Administrative Agencies (SAA). Local and state agencies must petition their respective SAA to receive these funds. Each SAA must complete their applications to FEMA and theDepartment of Homeland Security by April 19, 2010.
An interactive DHS Authorized Equipment List (AEL) is available online at the Responder’s Knowledge Base athttp://www.rkb.us/. Use the blue “AEL/SEL” button at the top of each screen. search for HeaterMeals by using the AELnumber “21 CR-00-FOOD.” HeaterMeals is listed as Luxfer Magtech Inc. (formally Innotech Products, Ltd.) dba HeaterMeals, and our category is “Shelf Stable Ready to Eat Food Packs.”