A dozen Peninsula-area public safety projects have been awarded nearly $456,000 in grants by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
A total of $6.5 million was awarded to enhance emergency preparedness and security across the state, according to a Virginia Department of Emergency Management news release.
The grants were selected through a competitive peer review process by 110 emergency management, law enforcement, fire and rescue and EMS professionals, officials said. The 100 projects awarded funding were among 155 total proposals submitted.
“Federal grants for emergency management and homeland security to Virginia have been cut nearly 70 percent since 2008, requiring us to be more strategic in how money is allocated in order to sustain the basic response capability that has been built up since 9/11,” VDEM State Coordinator Jeff Stern said in the release. “We asked our public safety partners from around the state to determine the priorities for this year’s grant process.”
A handful of other projects received additional funding not included in the competitive process.
Hampton
Shelter and mass care communications equipment – $14,583
Cyber security plan and exercise – $45,000
Citizen Corps program training and/or equipment – $37,000
Hampton Roads region
Personal protective equipment – $10,850
Mass casualty incident and mass care equipment sustainment – $58,000
James City County
Citizens Corps program training and/or equipment – $18,420
Shelter assessment – $22,500
Interregional rail emergency plan – $42,500
Newport News
Explosive ordnance detection bomb squad response equipment – $71,450
State hazardous materials team – $38,500 (not included in competitive process)
Poquoson
Response equipment – $65,000
Williamsburg
Citizen Corps program training and/or equipment – $31,998
Blood donations urgently needed
The American Red Cross is in urgent need of blood and platelet donations to prevent a shortage this winter.
Busy holiday schedules in November and December contributed to about 1,700 fewer blood drives held across the country compared to the two previous months, officials said in a news release. This resulted in about 50,000 fewer donations and reduced the blood supply.
“We encourage our generous donors who are eligible, as well as new donors, to make an appointment to give blood or platelets and help ensure blood products continue to be available for patients,” Ryan Cocoran, director of donor recruitment for the Red Cross Mid-Atlantic and Appalachian Blood Services Regions said in the release. “Every two seconds a patient in the U.S. needs blood.”
Winter is one of the most difficult times of the year to collect blood and platelet donations, officials said. Several upcoming local drives are scheduled to help replenish the supply.
Blood donors must be at least 17 years old or 16 with parental consent. Donors must be in generally good health and weight at least 110 pounds. A blood donor card or a driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.
Call 1-800-RED-CROSS with questions.
For platelet donations, call 757-623-4880.
Upcoming Blood Drives
Gloucester
Jan. 24: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Lighthouse Worship Center, 4299 George Washington Memorial Hwy, Hayes
Jan. 26: 1-7 p.m., Gloucester Chapter, 2676 Hayes Road, Gloucester Point
Isle of Wight/Surry
Jan. 24: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Mount Nebo Baptist Church, 5738 Colonial Trail East, Surry
Jan. 28: 1-6 p.m., Carrollton Elementary School, 14440 New Towne Haven Lane, Carrollton
Hampton
Jan. 27: 1-6 p.m., Hampton Roads Chapter RSMO, 1323 W. Pembroke Ave.
Jan. 28: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., TNCC Moore Hall, 99 Thomas Nelson Drive
Jan. 29: 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Hampton City Hall, 22 Lincoln Street
Newport News
Jan. 18: 1:30-6 p.m., St Andrews Episcopal Church, 45 Main Street
Jan. 20: 10 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Everest College, 803 Diligence Drive
Jan. 20; 3:15-6:15 p.m., Riverside Wellness and Fitness, 12650 Jefferson Ave.
Jan. 21: 9 a.m.-7 p.m., ECPI, 1001 Omni Blvd.
Jan. 23: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Patrick Henry Mall, 12300 Jefferson Ave.
Jan. 27: 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Ferguson Center, 1 University Place
Jan. 31: Noon-5 p.m., Patrick Henry Mall, 12300 Jefferson Ave.
Williamsburg
Jan. 22: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Williamsburg Landing, 5700 Williamsburg Landing Drive
Jan. 22: Noon-5 p.m., T J Maxx, 4640 Monticello Ave.
Jan. 26: 2-7 p.m., Walnut Hills Baptist Church, 1014 Jamestown Road
Jan. 27: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Marshall Wythe School of Law, South Henry Street
Jan. 27: 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Tidewater Physicians Multispecialty Group, 5424 Discovery Park Blvd.
Jan. 29; 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Riverside Doctors’ Hospital Williamsburg, 1500 Commonwealth Ave.
York
Jan. 17: 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Grace Episcopal Church Yorktown, 111 Church Street, Yorktown
Jan. 26: 2-7 p.m., Saint Mark Lutheran Church, 118 Old York Hampton Highway, Yorktown
Jan. 29: 2-7 p.m., Crossroads Community Gathering Place, 1420 Lakeside Drive, Yorktown
Jan. 30: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Cary’s Baptist Church, 1615 Carys Chapel Road, Yorktown
Ketchum covers breaking news and public safety. She can be reached by phone at 757-247-7478.
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