(COLUMBUS, OHIO) – Franklin County Emergency Management & Homeland Security (FCEM&HS) has been awarded nearly $350,000 in State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) funding. Executive Director Nancy Dragani of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA) presented the check to Director Pannell at the FCEM&HS Executive Committee Meeting today. The SHSP grant is distributed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and was designed to improve local government’s abilities to prevent, protect, respond and recover from natural and made-made disasters. 

The FY2013 SHSP grant program continued as a competitive process requiring projects to focus entirely on regional capabilities which can be made available to the region, state and nation as needed. FCEM&HS submitted applications from throughout the county totaling over $1 million and received 32% of the requested funds. This is a 75% increase in funding from 2012. 

“The increase in funding we received for 2013 will enable us to improve our preparedness and response capabilities and continue to strengthen the Franklin County Homeland Security Enterprise,” said Michael R. Pannell, Director of Franklin County Emergency Management & Homeland Security. 

The FY2013 SHSP grant allocations include: 

Region 4 Search and Rescue Sustainment: $160,230 
Majority of grant will be used to replace equipment and personal protection equipment (PPE). $10,000 will be used for a Structural Collapse Technician Course. 

FCEM&HS Cybersecurity Program: $145,000 
Funding from this grant will be used for the development of a regional, public/private sector partnership focused on the development of a Cybersecurity Workgroup. 

Bomb Squad Robot Communications: $41,650 
Grant funds will be used to update remote capabilities of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad robot. 


FCEM&HS is a local government agency which coordinates county-wide emergency/disaster planning, education, warning, response and recovery.