"Ensuring that our commonwealth's first responders can communicate effectively is a critical concern that we are addressing throughout Kentucky," said Governor Fletcher. "As many Kentuckians understand, whenever we cannot get cell phone coverage in an area, it is a real inconvenience. But, whenever our first responders cannot get radio communications, it can have very serious consequences. This funding to Washington County will help fix this problem and ensure a greater level of public safety for this community."
The homeland security check presented today will provide the county with repeaters that will fix communications "dead spots" and allow first responders, many of whom may have different types of radio equipment, the ability to talk to one another via that equipment.
The Governor also named the City of Springfield and Washington County as "Prepared Kentucky Communities;" the result of a five-day vulnerability assessment conducted by security professionals with the Kentucky Community Preparedness Program. Assessors analyzed facilities, structures and security policies and their relationship to each other in order to identify the community's weaknesses and analyze preparedness levels. The team then presented a report of recommendations for improvements.
"I want to recognize Springfield and Washington County for their commitment to improving security here in this community," said Gov. Fletcher. "Since the team has left, the city and county have made tremendous strides in making the entire area safer."
Among the advances the community has made since the assessment is the development of an exercise planned for later this year which will better prepare first responders and the local school district for a potential emergency. Local officials also formed a group to discuss areas of concern raised by the assessment and they have worked to ensure each of the sites assessed received and understood the recommendations made by the assessment team.
