Assistance Firefighter Grant applications for 2004 are expected to reach over 20,000 submissions as the 5 p.m. deadline holds.
Yesterday, applications were entering FEMA/ODP computers at the rate of 300 per hour and Grant Program Director Brian Cowan said as many as 5000 could come in Friday. Systems were running smoothly, he said.
Earlier Thursday it was reported that volume might have slowed the system. Those who worked on their applications earlier in the month probably experienced a faster system then now as they are trying to submit them.
They were getting a lot of calls to the help desk and many were exhibiting frustration, worried about not getting applications in, Cowan said. But it is expected that the system will do what it is set to do, and there would be no extension on the deadline, he said.
