TO: Local News Media

FROM: Chief Taylor

DATE: 11-5-2019

SUBJECT: Kentucky Emergency Management Search and Rescue Grant Award

On Tuesday November 5^th Campbellsville Fire Rescue received notification from the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management (KYEM) that our 2019 Search and Rescue grant application had been approved and would receive grant funding in the amount of $6,849.90.

With this award the department will purchase four encapsulated SCUBA drysuits. These suits will allow our public safety divers to be encapsulated and protected from contaminated water when diving search and recovery missions. In 2004, the U.S. Navy released a report that all waters, especially inland waters, are considered contaminated to some degree. The most common rescue situation is involving a vehicle in the water. Think about all the petroleum, engine oil, transmission fluid and whatever else the car is carrying. Also, think about the biohazards present when searching for persons underneath the water. Protection from all these hazards is a must. This grant will close that gap when dealing with contamination issues.

Campbellsville Fire-Rescue would like to thank Kentucky Division of Emergency Management and the Rescue Aid Fund Committee for their support of this critical project. This will allow our team to transition to a KYEM Level 5 Dive Team; this is the highest level of KYEM dive team standards. We would also like to thank our full/part time and volunteer rescue technicians that serve this community daily. This equipment will have a positive impact on their health and safety.