Bluegrass Regional Homeland Security Council:

Bluegrass Regional Homeland Security Council

In order to expeditiously and successfully address Central Kentucky’s vulnerability, the Bluegrass Regional Homeland Security Council was formed.  The Council functions as a first-time-ever communication forum for representatives of the member entities of the Bluegrass Area Development District (Bluegrass ADD) to focus totally on Homeland Security issues within the region.

The Bluegrass Regional Homeland Security Council and the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) of the Bluegrass ADD work together to build relationships among the Bluegrass Region’s First Responders. The Council is comprised of experts in the field of First Response and Emergency Management.  Bi-monthly meetings are held in order to strengthen the awareness and effectiveness of Emergency Management agencies within the Bluegrass.

During the 2007 fiscal year, DCED along with local elected officials and emergency responders, worked together to prepare a regional Homeland Security Grant application. The application highlighted the need for MDT’s (Mobile Date Terminals) in the Bluegrass Region to improve communications. The grant was awarded and provided $1,377,623 to city and county law enforcement agencies throughout District. These funds were used to provide MDT’s and ancillary equipment to these entities.  The Bluegrass Area Development District coordinated and administered the grant while continuing to apply for Homeland Security dollars via a regional effort endorsed by the Bluegrass Area Homeland Security Council.

Bluegrass Regional Citizen Corps Council

The Bluegrass Regional Citizen Corps Council functions as a sub-committee of the Bluegrass Regional Homeland Security Council.  The Citizen Corps Council, which operates in accordance with guidelines from the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security, is responsible for creating and monitoring programs to educate and make citizens aware of the dangers that could occur in the region.  It also prepares citizens and their families in the event of a disaster.  Efforts to increase awareness include volunteer programs that citizens can become actively involved with in their communities.  These volunteer programs include:

• Fire Corps
• Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)
• Volunteers in Police Services (VIPS)
• Neighborhood Watch
• Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)

DCED staff assists the Regional Citizen Corps Council in the preparation of a Regional Strategy to be submitted to the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security annually, seeking funds to continue to provide awareness and preparedness materials to citizens of the Bluegrass Region.  The Bluegrass Regional Citizen Corps Council meets quarterly

Contact

Jayne Combs - Chief of Grants-in-Aid
699 Perimeter Drive
Lexington, KY 40517
(859) 269-8021
(859) 269-7917 (FAX)
jcombs@bgadd.org

Laurel Wood –Community Development Specialist
699 Perimeter Drive
Lexington, KY 40517
(859) 269-8021
(859) 269-7917 (FAX)
lwood@bgadd.org

David Duttlinger –Director Department of Community and Economic Development
699 Perimeter Drive
Lexington, KY 40517
(859) 269-8021
(859) 269-7917 (FAX)
dduttlinger@bgadd.org