Michigan is getting its own federal Urban Search and Rescue Task Force, and it’s going to be based in Independence Township.
‘There are 28 Federal Emergency Management Agency teams across the nation,? said Chief Steve Ronk, Independence Township Fire Department, to the township board. ‘The closest ones to Michigan are in Indianapolis or Miami Valley, Ohio.?
The task force will include 108 experts in search, medical, logistics, communications, structural, riggers, and other specialties.
‘There are a lot of different disciplines that make up a task force,? said Ronk, one of three task force leaders. ‘It’s a mixture.?
FEMA teams are activiated on order of the president of the United States, in federal emergencies, he said.
Their equipment will be stored in a 100-by-200-square-foot Cover All tension-membrane, fabric structure, on the west side of the Department of Public Works across from Clarkston High School.
‘It is a very inexpensive building compared to a full steel building or block building,? said Ronk. ‘This is drastically less expensive than those.?
Independence Township would build and own the structure, and then the task force would lease it for $140,000 a year, paying its cost in about five years.
Oakland County will cover insurance and licensing of equipment and vehicles. The building could be built by winter, he said.
‘This is one of the greatest things that could have happened ? it will be our asset and will virtually cost us not a penny,? said Dave Wagner, Independence Township supervisor.
‘These are one of the unique things we’ve been looking to do, a little bit cutting edge.?
The local Urban Area Securities Initiative Region includes Oakland, Macomb, Wayne, St. Claire, Washtenaw, and Monroe counties and the City of Detroit.
‘Federal moneys come into the UASI region and you are to do regional projects or things that will benefit the region out of that,? Ronk said.
The region has a $2.4 million budget from 2006 federal grants. However, the building cannot be funded by the grants, he said.
‘You can lease space, but you just can’t build a building with federal money, which I think is kind of goofy,? he said.
The township board voted unanimously to approve up to $750,000 for the project.
‘Chief Ronk has shown extraordinary leadership and vision in making this a reality for the citizens of Oakland County,? said Julie Secontine, Oakland County risk manager. ‘The Independence Township Board has now demonstrated or mirrored that same extraordinary leadership and vision.?
Ronk hopes to add two more buildings to the property: a training center and a classroom for high school students exploring fire or EMS services for a career.
‘We’re not done with it,? he said. ‘We’ll leave the space available.
‘It’s real cool for us to be able to get this because there were a lot of communities that were trying to get it,? said Wagner. ‘With help from Brooks Patterson’s people, it made it possible.?