DetectionFloyd County gets additional $75,000 for CBRNE unit

Published 1 June 2011

Floyd County in Georgia has received two DHS grants worth $75,000 to replace and repair equipment for its chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives (CBRNE) response unit; the bulk of the money, approximately $65,000, will go towards replacing aging equipment, while the rest will go towards repairs; the CBRNE team was originally created four years ago with nearly $350,000 in DHS funding as part of the state’s terrorism prevention initiative

Floyd County in Georgia recently received two DHS grants worth $75,000 to replace and repair equipment for its chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives (CBRNE) response unit.

According to Floyd County Manager Kevin Poe, the bulk of the money, approximately $65,000, will go towards replacing aging equipment, while the rest will go towards repairs.

The CBRNE unit is tasked with responding to major chemical, biological, or nuclear events in an area that covers twenty counties including Bartow, Carroll, and Pickens.

The team is comprised of eight members from the Floyd County Police Department, Rome Police Department, and the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office.

The CBRNE team was originally created four years ago with nearly $350,000 in DHS funding as part of the state’s terrorism prevention initiative.

The original funding was part of a broader $9.4 million DHS grant that helped create a search and rescue team for the Calhoun Fire Department and a hazardous materials team for the Gordon County Fire Department.

Poe said that it was a positive thing that DHS has continued to assist Floyd County with its counter-terror response efforts.

“It’s good they’re continuing the funding support,” he said.

Last November, the CBRNE unit received nearly $400,000 from DHS to purchase a Total Containment Vessel which can be used to safely transport bombs and other suspicious items.