In December 2015, Columbia County was awarded a $162,100 federal grant for the purchase and installation of emergency generators for the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Substation, Columbia County Fire Station # 12 on Columbia Road and Columbia County Fire Station # 15 on County Line Road. Columbia County was eligible for this grant due to the Presidential Disaster Declaration for the Ice Storm in February 2014, and also having a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved Hazard Mitigation Plan that listed the need for these generators at critical facilities.

An amendment to this grant award was submitted to FEMA to include funding to purchase a fixed generator for Columbia County Fire Station #13 on Cobbham Road. The amendment to fund this project was approved in April 2019 in the amount of $46,300. The total amount awarded includes a federal share of $34,725, state share of $4,630 and a local share of $6,945.

This award is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), which provides funds to state agencies and local governments.