Over the years, many severe natural events have occurred in our part of the country and we did not have the provisions to open our building to assist our communities citizens if they needed emergency shelter. In fact, there aren't any emergency shelters in the Union Bridge area. Our biggest set-back is the lack of the emergency electrical power needed to provide for the buildings use as a shelter. The current generator was donated by Verizon and installed in 1984 when the activities center/social hall was constructed. The 30 kilowatt unit provides just enough power to use a few ceiling lights, radios, minimal heat and the ability to raise the apparatus bay doors when the main power is out. Though our company works hard to provide our community and the surrounding area with high quality fire, rescue and emergency medical services, we felt that we could do more with our assets.

In February of 2014, our fire company began the process to apply for a grant to replace our small station generator so that we could utilize the building as an emergency shelter during natural and/or man-made disaster events.

Recently, members of the Union Bridge Fire Company were notified that we have been awarded a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), to replace our emergency generator. The grant is funded from disaster funds allocated from Hurricane Sandy, a storm system that struck the eastern seaboard in late October of 2012.

The grant total is for $119,500, with a 75% federal share and a 25% fire company share.

The grant will pay for a 200 kilowatt generator, a fuel tank capable of hold sufficient fuel for 72 hours of continuous operation and all installation costs. The new generator will provide sufficient power to the entire building and allow us to function as an emergency shelter in cases of natural or man-made disasters.

Work to install the new generator will begin in March or April of this year.

This grant is another source of funding that allows our fire company to upgrade our facilities and operational capabilities with minimal cost to the fire company. For more information about how our fire company is funded, visit the "Finance" section of our website.