$20 Million in Public Safety Grants Awarded to Georgia

Chatham County Emergency Management Agency Press Release

Savannah, GA – April 9, 2008

Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that $20 million will be released for Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) grants for local first responders so to improve emergency communications and coordination during natural and man-made disasters.

The PSIC grant program will assist first responders in acquiring and deploying communication systems that are interoperable among all local response agencies. The grants will also provide training for local first responders in the usage of this improved communication system.

“These awards will assist our state’s first responders during critical moments when communications are essential to protecting the citizens of Georgia,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “The PSIC grant will increase our ability to communicate effectively and save lives across the state.”

Georgia Emergency Management Agency requested the PSIC grant in December of 2007 and grants have been designated to Chatham County Information and Communications Services for distribution to Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn and Liberty counties and the city of Savannah to enhance the Southeast Georgia Regional Radio Network (SEGARRN); to the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office and Coastal Network jurisdictions to expand SEGARNN; to Troup County for Troup and Harris counties and Columbus Consolidated Government to improve the West-Central Georgia Regional Radio System (WCGRRS); to Carroll County for upgrades to the Western Area Regional Radio System (WARRS); and to the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office for Catoosa, Walker and Dade counties to improve the Northwest Georgia Interoperable Communications Network (NWGIC).

“It is critical for first responders from different jurisdictions and agencies to have the proper tools and equipment available when they respond to an incident,” said Georgia Emergency Management Agency – Homeland Security Director Charley English. “The PSIC grant approval enhances our state’s communications capabilities.”

Forest Fires in Chatham and Effingham Counties

Dry conditions finally caught up with us today. Throughout the afternoon and this evening, Georgia Forestry and local fire departments fought forest fires in Chatham County near I-16 and the Pooler Parkway and in Effingham County near Guyton. Air operations augmented the firefighters and bulldozers on the ground at both fires. Based on radio traffic between the Georgia Forestry aircraft, there were also fires in Long County and Bulloch County.

Note the presence of Eastern District (Sunbury) fire units working the fire in Chatham County. Additional units from other counties were also on standby for mutual aid as well.

Chatham Forest Fire
Conventional Frequencies
159.225 - Georgia Forestry District 10 Repeater

159.390 - Georgia Forestry Mobile-to-Mobile
-Aircraft 0Z/38H, fire spotting
-CHOPPER 3, water drops
-013
-POOLER COMMAND CENTER
-BRYAN ##, CHATHAM ##, EMMANUEL ##, JENKINS ##, LONG ##, TATTNALL ##

168.775 - Ch. 9 (US Forestry 1)
-Aircraft 0Z wkg BRYAN ##

169.900 - Ch. 10 (US Forestry 3)
-Aircraft 0Z wkg CHATHAM ##

123.400 - Georgia Forestry Air-to-Air
-Aircraft 0Z
-CHOPPER 3
-CHOPPER 7 (sent to Effingham Fire)
-N241JH (Chatham Co.)
-Air Tractor N60057 (Chatham Co.)

Chatham-Effingham TRS
TG 37072 - Fire Common, Primary Working Channel
-COMMAND
-ENTRY CONTROL
-STAGING
-Savannah Fire
-Garden City FD 2#, 12##
-Port Wentworth FD 4#, 14##
-Thunderbolt FD 5#, 5##
-Pooler FD 6#, 16##
-Bloomingdale FD 8#, 18##
-Southside FD
-CEMA 3, CEMA 4
-Effingham FD 54
-Eastern District (Sunbury) 2#

TG 36880 - Savannah Fire Dispatch
TG 36912 - Savannah Fire Admin
TG 3568 - Chatham Metro Fire Dispatch
TG 4592 - Port Wentworth FD
TG 4752 - Thunderbolt FD
TG 5040 - Garden City FD
TG 5424 - Pooler FD


Effingham Forest Fire
Conventional Frequencies
159.225 - Georgia Forestry District 10 Repeater

159.285 - SE Compact
-Aircraft 0X, fire spotting
-CHOPPER 7, water drops
-BULLOCH ##
-EFFINGHAM ##

155.355 - Effingham Fire/EMS Dispatch
155.115 - North Effingham Fire Repeater

Chatham-Effingham TRS
TG 25200 - Effingham Fire Admin 1
TG 25104 - Effingham Fire Fireground 1


Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

123.100 in Chatham County

Early this afternoon I heard one of the Coast Guard HH-65Cs from Air Station Savannah calling MOSQUITO CONTROL on 123.100. They didn't receive an answer, but I don't think that one of the Mosquito Control helicopters was airborne at the time.

123.100 was used during December's Hurricane Exercise as an air-to-air frequency. Judging by the Coast Guard helicopter's use of the frequency, it could be a frequency that will be used for air-to-air by such assets on a regular basis in Chatham County. This proves it to definitely be a frequency to program in for Chatham County scanning enthusiasts.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net