City of Anadarko

PROJECT PURPOSE

The purpose of this project is to provide a safe environment enabling emergency services and essential personnel in Caddo County to continue operations and critical training throughout future hazardous events. To achieve this, the city of Anadarko proposes to construct a training and educational facility with equipment and services that provides a hazard-free environment to serve as a command post during crises and training for emergency personnel. The most significant pandemic impact was keeping emergency personnel healthy enough to respond to emergencies. The consequences of the pandemic negatively affected emergency services in terms of available trained personnel, operations and continuing education efforts. Emergency personnel serve and protect the residents of Caddo County (population: 26,945). Caddo County has about 739 emergency responders who would benefit from the facility. The training facility will also be available to all of western Oklahoma. Caddo County first responders serve 1,290 square miles; it is the 10th largest Oklahoma county by area. A hardship for the 23 fire departments (22 volunteer) is fulfilling required emergency training. As volunteers, the emergency personnel also have full-time jobs that limit their ability to go to Stillwater or other distant locations to earn training hours and to develop first responder skills.

EVIDENCE

A significant pandemic impact was maintaining the health of available emergency personnel to respond to emergencies. The living areas in the facility will be used for fire safety training and as a non-contamination living environment for emergency personnel. While there will be 10 beds, it will be available to more than 739 emergency personnel as needed. Caddo County has 3,369 individuals who are18 years and older without high school diplomas. Their median earnings are $500 per week with an unemployment rate of 6.5%. The small classroom will be used to help these individuals earn diplomas or the equivalent.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Fifty-eight percent of Caddo County residents were vaccinated at local schools and hospital. There were 130 COVID-related deaths. A dedicated room in the training center minimizes exposure at other public facilities. Vulnerable Population Percentage American Indian?Anadarko 40.36% Two or more races?Anadarko 14.68% Black or African American 6.01% Individuals under 65 without insurance?Caddo County 19.9% Individuals under 65 with a disability?Caddo County 13.9% Individuals in poverty?Caddo County 18.3% Anadarko has a highly vulnerable population, and many residents do not have transportation, so they have to walk to obtain medical and social services. Those who live in poverty also demonstrate a higher need for emergency services. These residents would benefit from a centralized location to obtain vaccines and to attend informational meetings related to federal medical services and insurance. Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health reports that COVID-19 has amplified health inequities in Indian communities because of under-resourced health systems, limited access to health services, poor infrastructure and underlying health disparities. Research shows that during the pandemic, low-income households are struggling to meet basic needs such as obtaining sufficient food, making housing payments and earning income (Source: 2021 Human Rights Watch).

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Building Construction Measures: ? Built according to blueprints ? Built according to code ? Completed within timeline (supply chain issues will be a consideration in evaluating this measure) ? Construction stays within budget ? Building is operational and turnkey upon completion Programmatic measures: ? Number of firefighters trained annually ? Number of EMTs trained annually ? Number of Caddo Kiowa Technology Center training programs held annually ? Number of adult basic education performance measures met ? Number of health-related events held ? Number of water-wastewater treatment plant operators trained annually

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma