The Aberdeen Fire Department announced that they were presented with a check from Congressman Richard Hudson on Thursday.
The Fire Department was awarded a $486,611 grant from the Department of Homeland Security’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program.
The award date from SAFER was on September 1st, and less than 3 weeks later Hudson presented the much-needed funds to staff six new firefighters.
“Today I was thrilled to present the Aberdeen Fire & Rescue Department, including Chief Phillip Richardson and Mayor Robbie Farrell, with a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant to help them increase the number of trained, “front line” firefighters available in our community. As we all know, our firefighters have a dangerous job, and an important one. I was happy to help the Aberdeen Fire Department in their quest for this grant, and I’ll continue to work to support our emergency responders,” said Hudson on social media.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, “The SAFER program was created to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, “front line” firefighters available in their communities. The goal of SAFER is to enhance the local fire departments’ abilities to comply with staffing, response and operational standards established by the NFPA.”
Congressman Hudson recently visited Moore County at the Rick Rhyne Public Safety Center to receive the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians’ 2017 EMS Legislator of the Year Award back in August.
Richard Hudson is serving his third term in the United States Congress representing North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District which includes Moore County and Fort Bragg.
Photos contributed by Richard Hudson
