City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MAY 23, 2013
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RASHAD M. YOUNG, CITY MANAGER /s/
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Consideration of Acceptance of a Funding Allocation from the 2012 National Capital Region (NCR), Urban Area Security Initiative Grant in the Amount of $145,200 for the Fire Department.
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ISSUE: Council consideration of acceptance of a grant allocation in the amount of $145,200 as a sub-grantee award from the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, from the District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (DCHSEMA), on behalf of the National Capital Region (NCR), from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These funds will be used to enhance the surge capability for water rescue emergencies during severe weather events that cause dangerous flash flooding and coastal flooding events within the NCR by providing those jurisdictions with Swift Water Rescue capabilities Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), motorized swift water boats, and a support vehicle
BACKGROUND: The City of Alexandria routinely experiences coastal flooding along the Potomac River. There have been two major flash flooding events within the last eight years that required immediate rescue of individuals in multiple locations in the City due to flash flooding. In addition, the Fire Department has responded to more than two incidents per year on average over the last five years that called for rescues from bodies of water other than the Potomac River and swimming pools.
The flash flooding from Tropical Storm Lee in September 2011 stretched the Fire Department's available swift water resources beyond the needs to handle rescue. On September 8, 2011, the Fire Department responded to two major shift water incidents in the City that resulted in more than 30 rescues of people who were ...
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