• The City partners with Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA) as they coordinate an application on behalf of the agencies of Region IV in Southwest Washington to request a portion of funding from the Washington State Emergency Management Department.

Vancouver Police Department (VPD) and Vancouver Fire Department (VFD) partnered with CRESA to enhance community safety by applying for the 2022 SHSP Grant.  Homeland Security Grants provide funding to implement investments that build, sustain, and deliver the core capabilities essential to achieving the National Preparedness Goal of a secure and resilient nation. These core capabilities support five mission areas of prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery based on allowable costs. These grant programs are essential in funding a range of preparedness activities, including planning, organization, equipment purchase, training, exercises, and management and administration.

This federally funded grant will allow VPD to replace grant-funded equipment for the Metro Explosive Disposal Unit (MEDU). Approximately ten years ago, VPD and CCSO each received a grant-funded X-Ray Scanner System through the Portland Police Department to assist our collateral duty explosives technician officers with MEDU responses throughout the Portland-metropolitan area. X-Ray Scanners are used to “develop” images of suspected explosive devices so the appropriate steps can be taken for a safe resolution. The current X-Ray Scanner is nearing end-of-life and needs to be replaced. This asset will also be available as part of the MEDU team response throughout Southwest Washington and the greater Portland Metropolitan area.  

This federally funded grant will allow VFD to participate in training activities such as Type 1 & 2 Hazmat, Hazmat equipment, and coordination of joint training and exercises with other fire agencies within Region 4. Region-wide trainings are comprehensive and collaborative in response capabilities which include early detection and screening to maximize communities’ life-protection capability during emerging threat situations.