"In today's climate, it is vitally important that all first responders have access to interoperable communications," Beshear said. "This equates to greater safety for those answering the call, and it enhances public safety by providing a more coordinated response."
Part of the grant will upgrade base stations and radio frequencies at Louisville MetroSafe so any agency - from a suburban fire station to FEMA to the New York Police Department - will be able to communicate with each other on the city's communication system. This is a critical piece in case of a multi-jurisdictional or multi-discipline incident.
The grant will also fund a new alarm system for fire and EMS services. The alert system will be compatible with MetroSafe upgrades and will get firefighters and EMTs/paramedics out of their stations faster.
"This money will go to fund the most important task of our city - protecting public safety," said Mayor Jerry Abramson. "Our new state of the art MetroSafe system will allow all of our emergency agencies to communicate with each other more easily in the field, which will improve efficiency. This is an investment in the safety of our community."
The grants, administered by the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security, are made in partnership with Louisville Metro officials as they work to complete their Metro-wide interoperable communication plan.
"Ensuring the safety and security of Kentuckians is one of this office's top priorities," said Adam Edelen, Executive Director of the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security. "Effective communication is essential to our public safety personnel to help us prevent crime and respond to emergencies."
