Washington, DC - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announced today its donation of $96,000 to the telecommunicators in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. Through donations collected through its Public Safety Foundation of America’s (PSFA’s) Sunshine Fund, APCO International was able to offer direct financial assistance to 192 public safety communications professionals in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
“APCO International understands that our assistance is only a portion of what is needed by those affected by this storm, but we are happy to be able to provide something to let them know that their professional association was doing all it could to help,” APCO International President Greg Ballentine said.
In addition to the direct financial assistance, APCO International sponsored the “Members Helping Members” program in which APCO International Chapters and Affiliates and communications centers across the U.S. could provide for communications centers in the affected areas. Through this program, 15 communications centers in Louisiana and Mississippi received support from other public safety communications professionals. Also as a part of this program, APCO International hosted the “Members Helping Members Web Forum” in which public safety communications professionals could seek or offer other assistance related to the disaster.
For more information, visit http://apcointl.com/sunshinefund/donations.htm.
About APCO International
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International, Inc. is the world’s oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to the enhancement of public safety communications. APCO serves the professional needs of its 15,000 members worldwide by creating a platform for setting professional standards, addressing professional issues and providing education, products and services for people who manage, operate, maintain and supply the communications systems used by police, fire and emergency medical dispatch agencies throughout the world. For more information, visit www.apcointl.org.