Responses?

[gsmith-gakvfd]

Anyone started receiving responses to their 2002 apps yet? Does anyone have an idea when responses will start coming back?

[dragonfyre]

According to an article in this week's Pennsylvania Fireman FEMA is reviewing the applications through May and announcements will start in late May, early June.

[gsmith-gakvfd]

Great! Good to know ... thanks for the information.

[car120]

I heard today that the peer reviews on applications that made it through the first computer scored round have been completed. Announcements should start by the end of the month/begining of June.

How's about our firehouse.com reporters checking into this? Inquiring minds want to know!

[car120]

I know of two departments in my area that have received an e-mail from FEMA/USFA directing them to download a federal direct deposit form, bring it to the bank for appropriate signatures, and express mail return it to them ASAP. Sounds like a REAL good sign for them! Both applied for vehicles.

Any similar stories out there?

[car120]

:eek: Just got word from one of those departments that their notification was a "false alarm." FEMA/USFA was only testing their notification system. Geesh, talk about getting their hopes up! Well, maybe they were testing them for a notification sometime down the road.

Anyone out there heard of any departments being contacted, positive OR negative???

[car2343]

Has anyone heard anything about their grant proposal yet?

[cans501]

Car 120

I had a local department tell me that they had received a letter from FEMA saying there grant had bee "accepted". They receieved this letter on May 23. I contacted FEMA that day and was told that NO notifications or awards had been made and none would be made until the first part of June. It is hard to say whether or not the departments you are talking about received anything or not. Question: Did they receive an award last year?

[car120]

cans501

Neither department won a grant last year. One of them I've really heard only "through the grapevine" since they are in a neighboring county. I'm still trying to confirm that one, though I may suspect that their grant funding was from a different source and confused with a successful FIRE ACT bid. They got money to refurb a tanker was what I was told, and that a local radio station news announced it.
A closer neighbor was the department I spoke of that got the "false alarm." I don't doubt either the first information about the e-mail, nor the latter about it being told it was a "test."

I haven't contacted USFA, but I did contact our Congressman's office. One of his staff contacted USFA and was told the same as you've posted. No announcements until June. If you didn't make the cut through the first round, you'd be notified then too. Same info as the most current firehouse.com article.

From contacts I've had with some of last year's winners, they were contacted about two weeks or so before being announced to confirm thay had their 10%/30% share, and to complete additional paperwork. Maybe with the new system they're doing things differently, but that e-mail they got sure sounded like it may be some good news for our neighbor. I sure know THEY thought so!

I sure know that I'm making sure to check our department's e-mail box daily!!!!

[webteam]

Here's a few points of advice and information for everyone:

- Once the first notifications are made, you should NOT call FEMA asking about yours. That will not serve any purpose other than to overwhelm FEMA officials who will be trying to complete the notification process.

- It may take a few MONTHS for all notifications to be made.

- If a neighboring department receives a notification that they will not be awarded a grant, and you don't at the same time, don't assume you will be awarded a grant. The grants will be awarded on a priority basis. If you are on the 'possible' list and not denied early on, it still may be a few months before you know whether or not you will receive a grant.

Thanks
WebTeam

[timm1960]

We have heard nothing yet. I thought it was going to be late May early June. June is 1/3 over. Sorry if I sound anxious, but the waiting is the hardest part. ANYONE HEARD YET?:(

[Archer131]

We are all in the same boat Timm its like waiting for Christmas. I have guys pacing the floor at our station as well!!!

[FDirish]

Hurry up and wait! The only grant action around here was a department about an hour from here has received a very nasty response from USFA- I guess they still haven't spent their money from last year! Use it or lose it!!!!! Capt. King

[Archer131]

FDirish

Some one needs to go and kick their rear ends around at that department you mentioned. A couple of years ago here in PA each Fire Department was given $9900 from the state. I know for a fact from talking to a State Senator that to this day that some of the departments still havent spent it or reported spending it. Its organizations like the ones you and i mentioned that make it difficult for the lawmakers (ok politicians) to go and push for further funding when Departments are pulling stunts like this.

There needs to be a stiff penalty in place for departments who have not spent it or have not reported spending it.

[timm1960]

I can tell you for sure that any money allocated to us won't sit in some slush fund, but be put to use as intended. Those departments give all of us a bad name!!

Anyway, anyone heard anything on the grants yet??

[TriTownship600]

Clearly they didn't need the money that bad.

We stated in our narrative that bids would be awarded within 60 days of receiving the funds.

I too thought that we would hear something before now. If not on ours at least the funds would start flowing to others. It's got to start soon.

Would be nice to hear someone has heard something though.

[FireChief15201]

:)According to Firehouse.com, the grant notifications will start in about 10 days. Approx. 5000 grants will be awarded out of 9200 successful applications.

[ffmedic1161]

My advice to everyone is to keep a close watch on firehouse.com. They seem to be posting information on the Fire Act Grants as soon as information becomes available. I understand and agree with the feeling that waiting is torture as my department is also waiting to here the results.

Now as far as departments receiving money again this year, It's hard to sit here and say that once a department has received money, that they have been taken care of. I've been in the fire service for 15 years and i've seen alot of misfortunes hit departments with no warning. Any incident may deplete a departments funding. Changes in local,state,and federal laws may require the purchasing of new equipment. Every day living takes a toll on everyone and every thing anymore. I believe that departments that received money last year should have to prove to FEMA that they have made a valid attempt at fund raising and other grant applications. I'll not down any department looking for money any place they can get it. No doubt money is tight and hard to come by. Good luck to ALL departments that applied and to those that didnt. Stay safe!!!!!!!!!!

[crashoakley]

FEMA SAYS THEY WILL START ON 01 JULY 02. LOOKS LIKE WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT ONE MORE WEEK.

[toddmcbr]

Does anyone know if responses will be made by phone, mail, email?

Todd

[JAMESBENNETT]

I think I remembered something about e-mail notifications, but I could be wrong! They took all the information; phone, address, and e-mail for three people! I kind of figured that someone would have heard something by now though. In one of the first reports after the computer grading, they stated that everyone that didn't make the peer review would be notified by the end of June. That only leaves about 4 1/2 days. I believe it will be difficult to notify 10,000 department in that time. Well I will go back to waiting with everyone else! Best of luck to everyone!!!!

[ffmedic1161]

According to the information that i've read. Departments that have been approved for grant funding will be notified 1-2 days in advance of publis announcment. Now being that this process is going to take several months to complete, there will be several departments that will not here anything for quite some time. Remember the grant applications were rated from top priority to lowest priority and they will be issued as so. The departments that were not approved should be notified in the near future. GOOD LUCK to all departments and if awarded funding please use it wisely.

[busmaster]

In response to notifications, I checked my confirmation page I received when I submitted our application. It says if you submitted an e-mail address you will be notified that way. If you get an e-mail address later you are to call their help desk at 1-886-274-0960 to have your contact info updated. If you have no e-mail address at the time of award, they will contact you by regular mail. I went back to the application site to look at our app again--- Found out our password was terminated, so I had to call in to get it reset. The password is good till July 10. They told me i'd have to change the password to continue to log in. Not that we need to but it helps with the nervous anticipation!!! Patiently waiting and checking the e-mail often, Good luck all!! Stay Safe!!:)

[jdrais]

It looks like FEMA is starting to email preliminary questions out. Yesterday we (Saint Stephen Fire & Rescue) got an email stating our application was reviewed and the asked several question like if we were still planning to make our purchase. Would we be making the purchase in the 1-year period? Did we have the funds available to pay the 10/30%? Do we know we need to fill out NFIRS reports (we do)? I cannot remember the other questions.

This does not mean we will get a grant, but at least we are still in the running. :) In case anyone is interested, we requested around $20,000 to replace our bunker gear.

[jmkfire]

That sounds like a pretty good sign. At least we know that they've finally started. I've been keeping an eye on our e-mail for anything from FEMA, but nothing yet. This is just like last year. Hurry up and wait! Hope you recieve your grant and good luck to everyone!:)

[killerb]

No word yet, BUT...

I got an email today from "Lyris ListManager" <lyris@lyris.fema.gov>

stating that I have been subscribed to "usfa-firefighters".

I haven't signed up for an email list from USFA.

Hmmmm.

Hope springs eternal.

[toddmcbr]

I received that same email this afternoon. I hope that is some sort of good news.

I guess it's gonna be another week until they start announcing grants.

Updated Release Information

The public announcement of FIRE Act grant recipients will not begin until about July 8.

A recent press release said USFA "will begin the initial awarding of Assistance to Firefighters Grants on Monday July 1". What will happen July 1, according a USFA spokesman, is that departments will be contacted for detailed information in the process of finalizing the grant. USFA will also use next week to inform those congressional and governmental leaders of these first award results.

[killerb]

I guess it COULD mean that they're going to notify the non-recipients "en masse".

I can look at it either way.

I choose to be optimistic.

:D

[toddmcbr]

I talked to a repersentative from FEMA and I was told that they are just checking their email system and everyone should have received that email if they gave a valid email address when they submitted their application.

Todd

[busmaster]

We got that same e-mail message twice today, thinking positive!!:)

[TRFD698]

bus_master: You are correct. Got the same reply that they will e-mail notifications to FDs.

jdrais: Sounds like good news to me. But, did your Dept get a e-mail from USFA/FEMA or another company? Reason I ask is that last year when my Dept got an award a management company assisting FEMA called me about a week before. They asked us to fax the 1199 Direct Deposit form. A week later they called us and asked if we would accept the money if we were given an award. 2 days later we found out that won an award. But like I said sounds like good news, so good luck.

killerb, toddmcbr, and bus_master: I think that USFA/FEMA just updated their e-mail notification list. Are you signed up for this list? Reason I ask is that I got the same e-mail twice today from "USFA-FIREFIGHTER", to the 2 e-mail addresses that i signed up for the USFA e-mail notification list over a year ago. But after checking my e-mail that I used for my Dept's app, I didn't get an e-mail from "USFA-FIGHTER." Furthermore, I also got a similar e-mail today from an EPA e-mail list that I am signed up for. It said that I was now signed up. Also if you might remember getting another e-mail today on 2 LODDS. That e-mail came from "usfa-firefighter". I think that usfa is just updating their listserve.

So if I burst any bubbles. But I just speaking from observations and past experience. Good luck to you all, I hope to check back in the next couple of weeks and see that your Depts all got awards. All I can say is hang in there.........

[car120]

Hey jdrais (Saint Stephen Fire & Rescue)!

Did you guys get the same LyrisList Manager e-mail that the rest of us got too, besides the earler e-mail you described? I think I'd much rather get the e-mail with lots of questions (like do we have our 10%/30% share) - seems similar to the preliminary phone call winners got last year.

I dunno, maybe I'm just a negative kind of guy, but I'm getting the "en masse" 'so sorry again this year' feeling about the LyrisList. I guess we'll just have to see...

Chad Niles, Chief
Moira (NY) Vol. Fire & Rescue Dept.

[car120]

trfd698

I guess you were submitting your post while I was typing mine. Your post does make me feel a little better. Boy if that's the case, kind of poor timing to send an e-mail out like that with all of us wainting anxiously for any kinf of word, donchathink?

[fireman077]

I got a phone call from FEMA today. I was told that we were "favorably paneled". They asked the types of questions previously posted here - "are you still able to use it within one year?", "can you stil match the grant?", they verified the contacts, etc. I was told that awards would be announced on the 15th and 30th of each month. Interesting though, no e-mails, just a phone call.

We submitted for $471,000+ with a matching amount of $140,000+. We are keeping fingers crossed. Good luck to all!

John

[killerb]

I just got another one... for the "press-release" list.

I intuit that they are upgrading their email distribution list for purposes OTHER than the grants.

I get the LODD notifications via email, for example, but not from the server I'm getting these from.

I agree with car120...probably inadvertant bad timing on their part when we're all waiting for word one way or the other.

Que sera, sera.

[TRFD698]

Yes car120. Looks like you were typing while I was posting. Like you said, poor timing. But I don't think it was intentional. But also, like I said in my last post, I also got an Lyris type e-mail from the EPA today, so the Feds must be updating the ListServs.

Fireman007 - FEMA asked us all those questions last year and tried to dodge our questions as to whether or not we got an award. But after faxing off the 1199 and then another call from FEMA a week later, the really couldn't keep it a secret much longer.

When you get a call from your Congressman(woman) or Senator, you know you made it.

[fireman077]

TRFD698 - Didn't mean to imply or think that we were guaranteed anything. From the phone call, it just let us know that our app wasn't thrown out. So, we are still in the "hunt". I only posted to say that we received a phone call, not an e-mail as others before me had posted.

Also, when we got our grant last year, no member of Congress of any other representative called first.

Good luck...

[Almarante51]

Well,


As of this moment, I have not received anything or any type of notification from FEMA. IM not sure if this is a good sign or a bad sign, or like it really is, no sign at all. Like the rest of you, I really am hoping to hear some positive sign from FEMA soon. Personally, I would think the phone call would be a very positive sign.

[jmkfire]

Fireman007:
Did your Dept. send in your application electronically or by mail?
With all the talk of electronic notification, I'm just kind of curious about the phone call. It does sound positive. We also recived the e-mails but only at the address we had on the application.
The other e-mail address is also signed up for LODD notification and I didn't recieve any there. Has this happened to anyone else? It does sound like they're updating the e-mail lists, but not recieving one at the other address makes me wonder. Good luck to everyone and stay safe out there!

[fireman077]

John King - All of our apps and information were completed and submitted electronically.

One of our points of contact changed and she asked for that update, so maybe the phone call was due to that. Don't know?

John

[TRFD698]

Fireman077: I understood from your post that you hadn't gotten anything. This thread is titled "Responses" after all. But like I said last year when we got our grant, FEMA did the same thing, they asked all these questions and checked up, but wouldn't let us know either way. If you got a call from FEMA chances are your Dept is on the top of the pile. Otherwise USFA/FEMA wouldn't be asking any of these questions now, they are too busy trying to get the first round out the door ASAP. If your Dept didn't make it to the top of the pile, then you'd have to wait awhile.

By the way, what did your Dept apply for anyway? Just curious as last year FEMA ran the grants in order, (e.g. training, etc). But since this year there is no set dollar amount like there was last year for each catergory, just wondering what Depts that are getting calls now applied for.

Almarante51: At this point no news it good news. Just sit and wait, as FEMA said they will be notifying Depts that they didn't make the cut of 9,200, that way budgets are held up.

[fireman077]

Originally posted by TRFD698
This thread is titled "Responses" after all.

TRFD698 - I apologize if I confused you with my post. I was not trying to imply that we received anything. I was just reponding that we received a "RESPONSE" related to our request AND that it was by phone. Most of the other persons who posted talked of e-mail notification and I thought someone might be interested in that they (FEMA) are also making phone calls. I obviously did not understand that the title of the thread "RESPONSES" was limited to those that actually received their awards. I now know better.

Our request was in the program area of "Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety". Within the Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety we applied for 3 items in the areas of "Firefighter equipment acquisition" and Personal protective equipment acquisition".

John

[Adze39]

From: "Grundy, Maury" <Maury.Grundy@fema.gov>
To: "USFA General Information" <usfa-press-release@lyris.fema.gov>
Subject: [usfa-press-release] Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program Update - July 3, 2002
Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 09:41:34 -0400



This is a message from the Federal Emergency Management Agency/U.S. Fire Administration.

FEMA/USFA procedures for decisions on the 19,584 submitted applications:

- Announcements of award decisions will begin next week.

- FEMA/USFA currently estimates that as many as 5,500 awards will be made.

- FEMA/USFA also estimates that by the end of calendar year 2002 all 5,500 awards will be processed and announced.

- Those departments that we will not be able to award grants to will be notified via electronic notices. Some departments will be notified in the coming weeks, others will be notified as the awards process continues. This does not mean that the application was "bad" or "incorrect" - it merely means that there will not be sufficient funds to support all grant requests.

- Lists of grant awards will be posted regularly on our web site at www.usfa.fema.gov. We anticipate new postings twice each month.

[TRFD698]

Fireman077: Oops. I think I confused you, sorry. By all means, your posting was right on the money. When I said "This thread is titled "Responses" after all," I was totalling agreeing with you and your posting. It that, yes this thread is for letting others know if you got a response from FEMA yet about your grant. Which is what you did...... But it sounds like good news. Good Luck....

Also. It looks like what I said earlier about the Lyris e-mails was true. Got an e-mail saying that USFA was just updating the old USFA e-mail list, and not notifications of awards.

[Almarante51]

It seems that a department close to us has also received a similar phone call, (i.e., do yo ustill have matching funds, etc.) I would think that FEMA would not change their M/O from previous years. My guess is that a phone call is a very GOOD sign.


BTW, no phone call here...

[jdrais]

It appears that FEMA is doing both phone and email follow-ups. What that means is just a guess right now. Hopefully it's good news.:)

The end of this article has questions similar to what we were sent by email.
http://www.firehouse.com/funding/fireact/2002/0703.html

[jboczek]

Last year, we got a phone call asking for banking information & verifying employer ID no. They faxed me the paperwork for direct deposit and we faxed it back. We didn't get a grant. I think that if somebody gets a phone call or e-mail this early, they can be pretty happy about it.

[jmkfire]

Has anyone heard if FEMA made any anouncements today? The last I heard was that they were going to start the awards today. Anyone have any info on that?
Stay Safe Out There!

[TLFD40]

Nothing yet Capt

[Phil4601]

Up to this point, July 9, 2002, 2025Hrs, I have not heard of any official notifications from anyone. I have been relying on the automatic e-mail feature from Firehouse.com to advise me when the first notices are made. I'm not ****y enough to thnk that we may get notified in the first round. This hase been a veru successful method or me. I must admit that I thought notifications were going to begin yesterday (7-8-02).

I guess at this point in time no news is good news.

Phil:)

[WolfeboroC7]

Hi:

Got an email today from FEMA asking me to fill out an on-line direct deposit form. It asked for routing numbers, etc. for the town's account.

I had to fill it in, print it out, and take it to the bank to have it verified by a bank employee. I was instructed to send it back to FEMA by Priority Mail. Mailed it this afternoon.

Good news???

[Adze39]

9C7: Did you receive any sort of notification prior to that?

[Almarante51]

Now I am curious. Direct Deposit information was a requirement on the Grant Application. So, why is FEMA asking for it again?

[thoskin]

The only difference that I can tell is that it must be taken to your bank for an "Official Certification" from the bank. We did not get the "questionaire" regarding whether we still wanted the grant; were we able to meet the 10% matching: etc?

[timm1960]

Does anyone know if the e-mail response goes to the person who filled out the application or the Chief or the mayor or city administrator?

[thoskin]

timm1960,
I was the only contact with email. Second and third contacts (Chief & Asst Chief) were by phone only and none receieved calls.

[WolfeboroC7]

Hi:

It was the same info we filled out with the original app, the difference being the "bank certification."

This was the first contact I had since the application was submitted.

I completed it and was the only one notified of the request for direct deposit info.

[FiRsqDvr45]

Hi there 9C7,
Good Luck, I am a Ff/EMT for Laconia. We also put in for a grant, hopefully the Lakes Region will get lucky this year. Good Luck with the grant process and stay safe "over there".

:D

[jmkfire]

Yesterday a sales rep called me to see if he could show us some cascade systems and I informed him we were still waiting to hear from FEMA about our grant application. He then told me that some departments in his sales area had recieved notifications last week that their applications did not make the final review. Has anyone recieved anything stating that their application was denied? He knew exactly what grants I was talking about, it just makes wonder. He stated that a dept was planning on purchasing a system but had to cancel after recieving a denial on the grant.
Stay Safe!!

[Phil4601]

No news from anyone locally here in rural Western PA. We are still waiting like many, many others. Good luck to all. :)

[Almarante51]

Originally posted by scruggs
I AM THE CHIEF OF A SMALL DEPT. WE GOT A CALL FROM FEMA 7-5-02 AND WE GOT 145000.00 DOLLARS FOR A CLASS A PUMPER WE HAVE 50 SQ MILES OF DIST. AND 18 VOL. FIREFIGHTERS SO GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS TO ALL


PS IT WAS THE FRIST GRANT I EVER DID AND ALL WE HAVE NOW IS A 1985 GRASS TRUCK

Location: Avalon Tx.



It looks to me like FEMA is making phone calls for the notifications. On top of that, those of us that have not received a notification, I think are still in the running for a grant, because FEMA does not know who still has matching funds available for the grant.


Andrew

[ttjjss]

I got an email on July 9th with instructions to go to the application site and verify and electronically submit the SF-199A Direct Deposit Form. Then to print a copy and have our bank fill in their info in section 3. Then send it next day air to FEMA. It arrived there this morning, July 11th. I hope this is good news but will wait to celebrate until I see the deposit in the account.
I will keep you updated if I hear anything else.
Capt Tyler Sitzer
Weiner Vol Fire & Rescue Dept
Weiner, ARK

[lindengunny]

On vendors call - I know of departments who were approved for grants that actually received calls from vendors before they were notified by the grant giver.

I received the notification for the direct deposit form also and filled it out and mailed it. To those who have received a grant this year - is it possible your could give us a heads up on this part of the process? We can all use a little hope.

I do know a department who was notified weeks ago that their application didn't make the cut. Just a guess - but if u received the direct deposit notification u are still in the running.

To the dept. who only has 3 members - god bless you and keep working. This is how nearly every volunteer dept. started.

Good luck to all who are still waiting and congratulations to those who already received the "golden call".

[Phil4601]

When I got home from work today there was e-mail from Firehouse.com reporting the first 75 companies to get positive notifications. :)

Congratulations to all!!

I have sill not heard of anyone receiving notification hat they have not made the cut at all.

Good luck to all of us that still wait.

[klondikefire]

we also received the direct depoist email on july 9th with all the same instructions. we did not receive any phone call or email to confirm matching funds. so we are hoping and waiting like everyone else.

good luck to everyone

congrats to all who received in the first round

[klondikefire]

well just received a call from fema tonight we were awarded our grant for a tanker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wish everone else good luck and stick in there there is alot of money left..