In response to "Understaffed?" by Janet Wilmoth, Editor, published in Command Post on June 17, 2005:

Reading your article was interesting about the number of applications for the SAFER Grant. I feel that most volunteer fire companies are frustrated about how the other programs work. Ever year it seems in our state that mostly the same departments receive the FEMA Grant money. This causes people to not want to waste their time in applying. Understanding that Pennsylvania receives the most money on the FEMA Grant every year, it still can be mind boggling to watch the same companies benefit.

In my area, we are in the process of applying for the SAFER Grant with 13 other communities. This will allow for the program to benefit approximately 26 departments and over 200,000 residents. We felt our chances better as a region than on our own. We hope this works, but I'm skeptical that it will. I feel the process is not that effective. Since the start of the FEMA money on average you had approximately 19,000 plus fire departments in the country applying. The program has been in place for approximately five years (I may be wrong). During which time on average about 8,000 departments receive the funds each year. Wouldn't make sense to give those departments a year off until after you gave everyone some funding? If they did it this way, they would have hit every fire department twice. This would make it more encouraging to complete applications. That being said they system my need adjusted down the road.

Janet we may not get our regional SAFER grant, but it will not be from lack of effort. We hope we score and help multiple communities out.

Joseph G. Gross
Chief
Seville V.F.C.
Ross Township, Pa.