Lacey OEM Secures Grant to Improve Emergency Service's Communication

Lacey’s emergency services will soon have the capacity to all communicate directly through one radio channel after the Office of Emergency Managment was awarded a $106,910 grant.

“It’s to improve communication with all our emergency services within the town so police, fire and EMS all have a common channel in the event of an emergency we all have to work,” Deputy OEM Coordinator Bob Resetar said.

The channel currently exists, he said, but it’s not in all the police cars and fire trucks. The modified equipment would be used for large-scale incidents and on a daily basis.

The grant will also be used to improve the equipment in the Emergency Operation Center located at the Police Department, he said.

“Right now there are limited capabilities with some of the equipment in the Emergency Operation Center,” he said.

During Hurricane Irene, a temporary radio had to be set up in the center to communicate with ambulances, he said.

The funding comes from various sources, including approximately $50,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“It’s just one more thing we’re trying to do for the emergency workers in town and of course everything we do for the emergency workers if for the residents,” he said. “It’s a real plus to improve communications.”

Township Administrator and Municipal Clerk noted the grant at the last Committee meeting on Thursday, Aug. 23.

Committeeman Gary Quinn thanked Police Chief William Nally and Resetar for securing the grant.

“Between the two of them, they’ve really been aggressive over the last couple months,” he said. “Fortunately they’ve been very successful, this one being $106,000 with having no matching, which is really a win-win for Lacey Township residents."