North Central Texas Council of Governments presents FEMA grant for disaster preparedness

The Sunnyvale Town Council meeting on July 14, 2025, featured a significant presentation on the regional care catastrophic preparedness grant program by the North Central Texas Council of Government (COG). Grace Ramazani, representing the COG's emergency preparedness department, outlined the program's objectives and the importance of community resilience in the face of increasing natural disasters.

Ramazani highlighted that the grant, funded by FEMA, has garnered support from 16 jurisdictions, including Sunnyvale, which was endorsed by Chief Kaya. She emphasized the urgency of enhancing community preparedness, stating that recent events have shown that disasters are becoming more frequent and severe. The overarching goal of the grant is to empower communities to better prepare for and respond to emergencies, ensuring that local residents are actively involved in emergency planning.

The program will unfold in three phases, with the first phase focused on raising awareness through workshops and training sessions, including critical skills like CPR and "stop the bleed" techniques. The grant is set to support these initiatives until September 2027, aiming to foster a culture of preparedness across the North Central Texas region.

In addition to the primary discussion on the grant, the meeting underscored the collaborative efforts among various local jurisdictions to enhance public safety and community resilience. The council's support for this initiative reflects a proactive approach to disaster readiness in the region.