Hunterdon Digital Mapping For Schools Gains Grant Funding

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: October 21, 2019

Contact: John E. Lanza, Freeholder Deputy Director

John.lanza@co.hunterdon.nj.us

Hunterdon Digital Mapping For Schools

Gains Homeland Security Grant Funding

The digital structure mapping program for schools, funded last year as a pilot project by the Hunterdon County Freeholder Board, will be continued with funding from a Homeland Security grant, the Board’s Deputy Director, John E. Lanza, reported at the October 15th Freeholder meeting.

Lanza stated, “I can report that the pilot project has been a success and that the state’s Office of Homeland Security recently approved $41,000 in funding for the program, as part of a grant award of $172,000 for Hunterdon County’s public safety preparedness programs.

When the Board approved the digital mapping pilot project last year, we said this is the kind of public safety tool that can save lives, obviously the Office of Homeland Security agrees. And so do our schools, thirty seven of which have already approved participation in the program.”

The cloud based digital mapping system can make available to Police, Rescue Squad responders and Fire fighters, via cell phones, tablets, and laptops, a digital grid like overlay of the floor plans of a structure, enabling those responders to better direct resources to specific areas within structures, particularly school buildings during critical incidents.

Lanza added, “The Homeland Security grant provides vital funding for numerous other public safety shared services with our municipalities, law enforcement and first responders around the County.

These important grant funds, that help protect the public through preparedness, are gained through the cooperative work of the Prosecutor’s Office and the County’s Public Safety Division and Office of Emergency Management. Recognition is due to all involved for their outstanding efforts that help protect our residents.”