Hays County is applying for numerous grants to boost the capabilities of its SWAT and HazMat response teams and emergency preparedness in general.
At its meeting Tuesday morning, the Hays County Commissioners Court gave the green light to applications for five grants from the Office of the Governor Homeland Security Grants Division to help with matters ranging from radiation detection to soil moisture studies. Emergency Management Coordinator Kharley Smith addressed the court briefly on what the grants would cover. She also noted that the grants have regional benefits, and applications go through the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG). The grants require no matching funds from the county.
The first grant would give $104,860 for new robotic equipment and technology for the SWAT Team. Smith said the grant would bring the county SWAT team to “the next level of capabilities.”
