Clallam, Jefferson and Kitsap counties will enhance their security planning efforts through a $1.2 million federal grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Joe Ciarlo, Clallam County Emergency Services manager, said the county’s share of more than $100,000 will go toward the hiring of a new, two-year position “to help us with our terrorism planning.”
“This will enhance our operational readiness. This will get our emergency center more technologically advanced,” Ciarlo said.
That technology would include laptop computers and cell phones.
The grant will also go toward the staff directing the response to terrorism concerns in Region 2, which consists of Clallam, Jefferson and Kitsap counties.
“Homeland Security has been good to us,” said Bob Hamlin, Jefferson County Emergency Services Program manager.
Hamlin said he intends to find uses for the funding that will meet requirements of the Homeland Security Department while helping the county to prepare for other disasters such as earthquakes, big windstorms or even a major forest fire.
“We’re looking for dual uses so we get double the bang for the buck,” Hamlin said.
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The rest of the story appears in Tuesday’s Peninsula Daily News.
