Homeland Security Program Helps Green Country Respond To Disasters

A program paid for by the federal Department of Homeland Security is making its presence felt in Tulsa County.

The Urban Area Security Initiative was designed to help build or enhance rescue and response efforts after a disaster, either man-made or natural.

Grant money is helping improve communications between first responders and pay for specialized equipment, like haz mat vehicles and medical tents.

The program not only benefits the cities, but rural Oklahoma, too.

"The theory being, within a couple hours of any event, we could have just as good a response, equipment, to a rural part of Oklahoma, as we would in Tulsa or Oklahoma City," said Kim Carter, Director of the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security.

Some of the equipment and training has already been put to use during the May tornado outbreak and during last year's wildfires in Mannford.