Why does Zanesville need thermal imaging sensors, nerve gas test kits

For example, after Hurricane Katrina, FEMA spent $3 billion on trailers that turned out to be contaminated, buying them from four GOP-friendly companies, Bechtel, CH2MHill, Fluor and the Shaw Group. And Zanesville, Ohio, population 25,000, landed generous federal grants to buy thermal imaging sensors to locate people through thick smoke, and to buy kits that test for nerve gas. (Meanwhile, New York City repeatedly asked for money to replace the police and fire radio system that failed on September 11th. It got snubbed.)


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kelly-caldwell/giving-fema-the-green-lig_b_191802.html

The fire departments use the TIC to search in burning buildings for victims and the RIT teams use them to find fallen firefighters. The nerve gas tests kits are probably for the HAZMAT team in case of a terror attack which will probably never happen in Z-Ville. Since Zanesville has many fire stations and the thermal cameras are about 10,000 to 20,000 they would need alot of money to put 1 camera in each station.

Thanks for the input, I just thought it strange but who am I to know. And to find this in the Huffington Post. I just happen to come across it in a search I was doing. But maybe it was in the Zanesville's Paper I never go there, but maybe I will take a look later.

All fire departments apply for federal grants for equipment, especially volunteer departments. Then the Gov't picks who they think should receive what funding. This grant money is set aside just for fire departments and every department is free to apply. I think 3 or 4 of the departments is this county has received funding of some sort for equipment or new trucks.

Maybe you might know, are they doing any of the Fema drills they are having all over the county in the coming weeks, here? Or are these drills just rumors? You sound like a smart guy and would know.

"nle09"

They do occasionally do Mock Disasters here but i havent heard of any in this area.