FARMINGTON – Franklin County has been awarded $82,000 in grant funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to fund three emergency preparedness projects. The money is contingent on meeting compliance of National Incident Management System training deadline on Jan. 28, Franklin County Emergency Management Agency Director Tim Hardy said Wednesday.

One of the projects will be to put emergency kits in each of the county’s 17 schools, he said.

SAD 9 Assistant Superintendent Sue Pratt put the proposal together.

The emergency kit would be used in case students needed to be moved to a short-term location.

The kit will include blankets, first-aid kits, medical guides, flashlights and other items, Hardy said.

Another part of the grant is for the next levels of National Incident Management System training, which would need to be held in a classroom setting.

The money would cover the classes and assist agencies that might have to pay overtime and replace workers while people are taking the training, Hardy said.

The third project is to hire a planning and public awareness coordinator for a year.

That individual will continue to do outreach emergency planning and preparedness and to assist communities to update emergency operations plans, Hardy said.

It is looking good that they will meet the compliance deadline, he added.