Pearl River County gets $750,000 federal grant for emergency upgrades

Pearl River County in Mississippi will use a $750,000 federal grant to buy emergency equipment and vehicles for its Emergency Services and Emergency Operations Center project. The county says the funding will help expand its disaster response capacity as construction planning moves toward early 2027 bidding.

Why it matters: - Pearl River County is adding money for emergency response infrastructure at a time when local governments are trying to improve disaster readiness. - The grant helps pay for equipment that county officials say will speed up response and strengthen operations during major emergencies. - The funding also supports a broader $3.9 million project tied to the county’s Emergency Operations Center and related facilities.

What happened: - Pearl River County received $750,000 in federal grant funding for its Emergency Services and Emergency Operations Center project. - The money was secured with support from U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith’s office through the U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services program. - The county will use the funding to buy new equipment and emergency vehicles. - Pearl River County said the announcement was made Nov. 2, 2026.

The details: - The COPS grant will be combined with local, state and federal funding to reach a total project budget of $3.9 million. - The funding supports the county’s Multipurpose and Emergency Operations Center project. - The project is a multi-phase effort that includes a new EOC, convention center space and a future multipurpose arena. - The county plans to purchase an Emergency Cascade System, dispatch equipment and multiple enhanced response vehicles. - The Emergency Cascade System provides a continuous supply of breathing air or medical-grade oxygen during critical incidents. - John Klingenberger, fire coordinator and director of fire services for the Pearl River County Office of Emergency Services, said the north end fire departments cover more than 50% of the county and currently rely on partner cascade systems. - Klingenberger said the new equipment would give the county its own cascade system, new vehicles and an updated dispatch system. - Pearl River County Administrator Adrain Lumpkin said the county will be ready when disaster strikes.

Between the lines: - The grant points to federal support for county-level public safety infrastructure, not just one-time equipment purchases. - The project appears aimed at building redundancy into emergency operations so the county is less dependent on outside partners during a large disaster. - The involvement of Hyde-Smith, along with U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker and U.S. Rep. Mike Ezell, signals a coordinated federal delegation push behind the county’s plans.

What's next: - Pearl River County is finalizing construction plans for the new EOC and fire station. - The county expects to begin accepting construction bids in early 2027. - Construction is expected to start shortly after bids are opened. - The county directs residents to more information about Pearl River County and federal grant programs.