BALTIMORE (Dec. 21, 2015) – Baltimore Gas and Electric today announced that it is awarding $325,000 in emergency response and safety grants to 65 nonprofit emergency response and public safety organizations in 10 Maryland counties and Baltimore City as part of its Emergency Response and Safety Grant program. There were 19 first-time award recipients. BGE will hold an event in early 2016 to formally recognize all of the organizations being awarded grant funding.

“BGE is proud to once again give back to nonprofit public safety and emergency response organizations who selflessly give their time and energy to maintain safety in the communities that we serve,” said Valencia A. McClure, Director of Communications and Corporate Relations for BGE. “This grant funding will allow these agencies to purchase equipment, and support programs, and services that are vital to their preparedness and the overall safety of our community.”

One notable first time recipient is the North Beach Volunteer Fire Department in Calvert County who will be creating real-time GPS fire hydrant mapping. In addition to this first time recipient, Chesapeake Search Dogs will be purchasing GPS technology for their radios and wearable GPS tracking devices for their search dogs.

“GPS tracking technology will enable search managers to know the areas covered by both the handlers and their K-9 partners,” said Sheli Engles, Public Relations Director for Chesapeake Search Dogs. “This technology will also provide the exact location of the search team should the deployment of medical staff be necessary for either the search team or the missing subject.”

BGE’s Emergency Response and Safety Grant program, now in its fourth year, is an integral part of BGE’s continued commitment to supporting safety and reliability while also enhancing the communities it serves. It supports nonprofit emergency response and public safety organizations by providing funding that is vital to their success. Some of this year’s grants will assist agencies in purchasing items such as thermal imaging cameras, GPS systems, smoke alarms, portable radios and funding emergency preparedness drills and equipment. To date, BGE has provided over $1 million to 194 emergency response organizations, who share BGE’s commitment to the safety of central Maryland residents.

The following is a list of the organizations awarded with a 2015 BGE Emergency Response and Safety Grant:

Anne Arundel County: 

• Arnold Volunteer Fire Department — Fire Prevention and Education 
• Ferndale Volunteer Fire Company — Rescue Tool 
• Glen Burnie Volunteer Fire Department — New Portable Radio 
• National Fallen Firefighters Foundation — Smoke Alarms (Prince George’s County as well) 
• Odenton Volunteer Fire Company — Station Renovation 
• Orchard Beach Volunteer Fire Department — Thermal Imaging Camera & Meter 
• Southern Police Reserves Foundation — Office Safety and Equipment

Baltimore City: 

• American Red Cross-Greater Chesapeake Region — Home Fire Prevention Campaign 
• Baltimore Urban Debate — Public Debates on Body Cameras 
• Johns Hopkins University — Purchase of Defibrillator 
• Loyola College — Two-Way Radios 
• Maryland Food Bank — Meals Ready to Eat (MRE’s) for Emergency Preparedness 
• 2-1-1 Maryland — First Responder Outreach Project 
• The Salvation Army — Disaster Relief / Feed More Program 
• The William Baer School — Emergency Support

Baltimore County: 

• Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department — Equipment Upgrades 
• Arcadia Volunteer Fire Company — Turnout Gear and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Meter 
• Chesapeake Search Dogs — GPS System 
• Chestnut Ridge Volunteer Fire Company — Thermal Imaging Camera / Vests 
• Civil Air Patrol — Search and Rescue Equipment 
• Cockeysville Volunteer Fire Company — CPR Machine 
• Bowleys Quarters Volunteer Fire Company — Medical Vehicle Replacement 
• Hereford Volunteer Ambulance — Power Load Cot System 
• Hereford Volunteer Fire Company — Headset Communication Tool 
• Lutherville Volunteer Fire Company — AED Purchase and Training 
• Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) — MEMA Symposium 
• Maryland Line Fire Protection Association — Upgrade Building 
• Middle River Volunteer Ambulance Rescue — Readiness Improvement 
• Middle River Volunteer Fire Company — AED Replacement 
• Owings Mills Volunteer Fire Company — Emergency Light for Vehicle 
• Rosedale Volunteer Fire Company — Electronic Community Sign 
• Towson University — Emergency Preparedness Drill 
• White Marsh Volunteer Fire Company — Boot Replacement 
• Wise Avenue Volunteer Fire Company — Emergency Operational Readiness 
• Woodlawn Volunteer Fire Company — CPR Training

Calvert County: 

• North Beach Volunteer Fire Department — GIS Mapping System

Carroll County: 

• Carroll County Amateur Radio Club — Emergency Communications Update 
• Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Association — AED Replacement 
• Hampstead Volunteer Fire Company — Replacement Vent Saws 
• Manchester Fire Engine and Hook and Ladder Company — Turnout Gear Locker Replacement
• Maryland Military Auxiliary Radio — MARS Portable Communications Kit 
• New Windsor Fire & Hose Company — Rescue Tool Power Unit 
• North Carroll Auxiliary Police — Vehicle Replacement 
• Sykesville Freedom District Fire Department — Cellular Booster / Repeater 
• Water Witch Fire Company — Equipment Upgrade 
• Westminster Fire Engine and Hose Company — LUCAS chest compression device

Cecil County: 

• Community Fire Company of Rising Sun — Thermal Imaging Camera 
• Singerly Fire Company — Rescue Equipment Replacement Frederick County: 
• New Market District Volunteer Fire Department — Water Rescue Equipment 
• Western Maryland K-9 Search & Rescue — Operational Support

Harford County: 

• Abingdon Fire Company — Zodiac Motor Replacement 
• Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company — Body Armor 
• Community Fire Company of Perryville — Hazardous Gas Response 
• Jarrettsville Volunteer Fire Company — Utility Vehicle Renovation 
• Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company — Rescue Struts 
• Level Volunteer Fire Company — Public Fire Safety Education 
• Maryland D.A.R.E. Officers Association (MDOA) — SORAT 
• Mason-Dixon Rescue Dogs — Training and Operation

Howard County: 

• International Critical Incident Stress Foundation — Crisis Intervention 
• West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department — Fire and Rescue Equipment 
• Lisbon Volunteer Fire Company — High Lift Air Bag

Montgomery County: 

• Burtonsville Volunteer Fire Department — Volunteer Training

Prince George’s County: 

• Disaster Aid USA — Emergency Response Trailer 
• Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad — Thermal Imaging Camera 
• Kentland Volunteer Fire Company — Gas Detectors / Ventilation Fans

BGE encourages eligible 501c3 organizations that respond to the community’s needs during emergencies to apply for grants of up to $10,000 each. Grant applications are available online at bge.com/emergencyrespondersgrant each September through the end of October.

BGE presented $310,000 to last year’s 48 grant recipients. A number of grant recipients spoke about how they use the grants in this brief video. In addition to supporting the emergency responder community in Maryland, BGE provides training for fire, police, 911 centers and emergency management organizations who routinely work around utility equipment. BGE is recognized for its own emergency response record, ranking among the top utilities in the nation for rapid response to gas emergency calls and in working to prevent damages to energy equipment.

BGE plays an integral role in working with Maryland communities to address economic development, public safety, civic issues and other initiatives that help enhance our neighborhoods. Through the use of shareholder dollars, BGE supports programs that deliver measurable and sustainable impact in areas of education, environment, community development and arts and culture.

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BGE, headquartered in Baltimore, is Maryland’s largest natural gas and electric utility, delivering power to more than 1.25 million electric customers and more than 650,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland. The company’s approximately 3,200 employees are committed to the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas and electricity, as well as enhanced energy management, conservation, environmental stewardship and community assistance. BGE is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive energy provider, with 2014 revenues of approximately $27.4 billion. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.