BGE Awards Grants to Harford County Nonprofit Emergency Response Organizations for Equipment, Training

From BGE:

Baltimore Gas and Electric today announced that it is awarding $325,000 in emergency response and safety grants to 65 nonprofit emergency response and public safety organizations in 10 Maryland counties and Baltimore City as part of its Emergency Response and Safety Grant program. There were 19 first-time award recipients. BGE will hold an event in early 2016 to formally recognize all of the organizations being awarded grant funding.

“BGE is proud to once again give back to nonprofit public safety and emergency response organizations who selflessly give their time and energy to maintain safety in the communities that we serve,” said Valencia A. McClure, Director of Communications and Corporate Relations for BGE. “This grant funding will allow these agencies to purchase equipment, and support programs, and services that are vital to their preparedness and the overall safety of our community.”

One notable first time recipient is the North Beach Volunteer Fire Department in Calvert County who will be creating real-time GPS fire hydrant mapping. In addition to this first time recipient, Chesapeake Search Dogs will be purchasing GPS technology for their radios and wearable GPS tracking devices for their search dogs.

“GPS tracking technology will enable search managers to know the areas covered by both the handlers and their K-9 partners,” said Sheli Engles, Public Relations Director for Chesapeake Search Dogs. “This technology will also provide the exact location of the search team should the deployment of medical staff be necessary for either the search team or the missing subject.”

BGE’s Emergency Response and Safety Grant program, now in its fourth year, is an integral part of BGE’s continued commitment to supporting safety and reliability while also enhancing the communities it serves. It supports nonprofit emergency response and public safety organizations by providing funding that is vital to their success. Some of this year’s grants will assist agencies in purchasing items such as 120 serving emergency breakfast food supply, thermal imaging cameras, GPS systems, smoke alarms, portable radios and funding emergency preparedness drills and equipment. To date, BGE has provided over $1 million to 194 emergency response organizations, who share BGE’s commitment to the safety of central Maryland residents.

The following is a list of the organizations awarded with a 2015 BGE Emergency Response and Safety Grant:

Anne Arundel County:

Arnold Volunteer Fire Department — Fire Prevention and Education
Ferndale Volunteer Fire Company — Rescue Tool
Glen Burnie Volunteer Fire Department — New Portable Radio
National Fallen Firefighters Foundation — Smoke Alarms (Prince George’s County as well)
Odenton Volunteer Fire Company — Station Renovation
Orchard Beach Volunteer Fire Department — Thermal Imaging Camera & Meter
Southern Police Reserves Foundation — Office Safety and Equipment

Baltimore City:

American Red Cross-Greater Chesapeake Region — Home Fire Prevention? Campaign
Baltimore Urban Debate — Public Debates on Body Cameras
Johns Hopkins University — Purchase of Defibrillator
Loyola College — Two-Way Radios
Maryland Food Bank — Meals Ready to Eat (MRE’s) for Emergency Preparedness
2-1-1 Maryland — First Responder Outreach Project
The Salvation Army — Disaster Relief / Feed? More Program
The William Baer School — Emergency Support

Baltimore County:

Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department — Equipment Upgrades
Arcadia Volunteer Fire Company — Turnout Gear and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Meter
Chesapeake Search Dogs — GPS System
Chestnut Ridge Volunteer Fire Company — Thermal Imaging Camera / Vests
Civil Air Patrol — Search and Rescue Equipment
Cockeysville Volunteer Fire Company — CPR Machine
Bowleys Quarters Volunteer Fire Company — Medical Vehicle Replacement
Hereford Volunteer Ambulance — Power Load Cot System
Hereford Volunteer Fire Company — Headset Communication Tool
Lutherville Volunteer Fire Company — AED Purchase and Training
Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) — MEMA Symposium
Maryland Line Fire Protection Association — Upgrade Building
Middle River Volunteer Ambulance Rescue — Readiness Improvement
Middle River Volunteer Fire Company — AED Replacement
Owings Mills Volunteer Fire Company — Emergency Light for Vehicle
Rosedale Volunteer Fire Company — Electronic Community Sign
Towson University — Emergency Preparedness Drill
White Marsh Volunteer Fire Company — Boot Replacement
Wise Avenue Volunteer Fire Company — Emergency Operational Readiness
Woodlawn Volunteer Fire Company — CPR Training

Calvert County:

North Beach Volunteer Fire Department — GIS Mapping System

Carroll County:

Carroll County Amateur Radio Club — Emergency Communications Update
Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Association — AED Replacement
Hampstead Volunteer Fire Company — Replacement Vent Saws
Manchester Fire Engine and Hook and Ladder Company — Turnout Gear Locker Replacement
Maryland Military Auxiliary Radio — MARS Portable Communications Kit
New Windsor Fire & Hose Company — Rescue Tool Power Unit
North Carroll Auxiliary Police — Vehicle Replacement
Sykesville Freedom District Fire Department — Cellular Booster / Repeater
Water Witch Fire Company — Equipment Upgrade
Westminster Fire Engine and Hose Company — LUCAS chest compression device

Cecil County:

Community Fire Company of Rising Sun — Thermal Imaging Camera
Singerly Fire Company — Rescue Equipment Replacement

Frederick County:

New Market District Volunteer Fire Department — Water Rescue Equipment
Western Maryland K-9 Search & Rescue — Operational Support

Harford County:

Abingdon Fire Company — Zodiac Motor Replacement
Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company — Body Armur
Community Fire Company of Perryville — Hazardous Gas Response
Jarrettsville Volunteer Fire Company — Utility Vehicle Renovation
Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company — Rescue Struts
Level Volunteer Fire Company — Public Fire Safety Education
Maryland D.A.R.E. Officers Association (MDOA) — SORAT
Mason-Dixon Rescue Dogs — Training and Operation

Howard County:

International Critical Incident Stress Foundation — Crisis Intervention
West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department — Fire and Rescue Equipment
Lisbon Volunteer Fire Company — High Lift Air Bag

Montgomery County:

Burtonsville Volunteer Fire Department — Volunteer Training

Prince George’s County:

Disaster Aid USA — Emergency Response Trailer
Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad — Thermal Imaging Camera
Kentland Volunteer Fire Company — Gas Detectors / Ventilation Fans

BGE encourages eligible 501c3 organizations that respond to the community’s needs during emergencies to apply for grants of up to $10,000 each. Grant applications are available online at bge.com/emergencyrespondersgrant each September through the end of October.

BGE presented $310,000 to last year’s 48 grant recipients. A number of grant recipients spoke about how they use the grants in this brief video. In addition to supporting the emergency responder community in Maryland, BGE provides training for fire, police, 911 centers and emergency management organizations who routinely work around utility equipment. BGE is recognized for its own emergency response record, ranking among the top utilities in the nation for rapid response to gas emergency calls and in working to prevent damages to energy equipment.

BGE plays an integral role in working with Maryland communities to address economic development, public safety, civic issues and other initiatives that help enhance our neighborhoods. Through the use of shareholder dollars, BGE supports programs that deliver measurable and sustainable impact in areas of education, environment, community development and arts and culture.