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This new department has already received an impressive $2.5 million in grants from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, the Federal Railroad Administration and the Riley Foundation. Those grants were used in part to train law enforcement officers from other southern states, to purchase equipment needed in the event of any terrorism response, to build a multi-story drill tower at the Public Safety Training Center and to hire planning and training coordinators to assist the nine-county regional response team. That team includes Clarke, Smith, Jasper, Scott, Newton, Kemper, Neshoba and Leake counties in addition to Lauderdale County .
Training is the hallmark of professionalism for emergency responders, and our department offered an impressive array of 58 classes attended by more than 863 students. Some of the classes included passenger rail rescue, civilian classes in basic handguns, Boy Scout first aid and hunting, and firearms training utilized by our own staff and numerous other agencies like the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department, NAS Meridian, Peavey security, Rush security, the Internal Revenue Service, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Mississippi State Department of Health, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and police and fire departments from around the state. Eight responders from Ridgeland who attended the Passenger Rail Emergency Response Class had their training put to the test when an Amtrak train derailed just north of Yazoo City . The Ridgeland chief remarked later that the training received in Meridian allowed his responders to take the lead in preventing further injuries or death. That's a testament to the training provided by the Homeland Security Department. Contact Information for Homeland Security Passenger Train Emergency Response Brochure Level I |
Homeland Security, the city's newest department, and the only such department in any city in Mississippi, is dedicated to the mission of ensuring safety for our residents, providing sophisticated training for local and area agencies and serving as the lead team for disasters and other emergency response situations. 
The new department's capabilities were tested early as Hurricane Ivan hit in September. The department served as emergency coordinator, taking more than 300 calls received during the first 48 hours and, with help from other city departments, making damage assessments that led to emergency declarations from both the state and federal emergency management agencies. Our staff worked with volunteer agencies to establish and support shelters for 700 evacuees from other communities and set up a relief center so the Federal Emergency Management Agency could take applications from residents seeking disaster relief. Frequently Asked Questions
Q. |
WHY DOES A CITY THE SIZE OF MERIDIAN HAVE A HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT AND WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM? |
A. |
The City of Meridian is fortunate to have a department dedicated to coordinating homeland security. Since September 11, 2001 a lot of focus has been put on homeland security, and a lot of responsibilities and areas of interest are covered by the term "homeland security". Meridian 's Homeland Security Department focuses its attention on ensuring the city's responders are trained and prepared to perform their duties. We act as coordinators for all response agencies during emergency situations. Thirdly, we secure and manage homeland security funding. To date, the City of Meridian has received approximately $195,000 to equip the city's first responders and an additional $1.5 million to equip and train the regional response team. |
Q. |
WHAT DOES THE CITY SPEND HOMELAND SECURITY MONEY ON? |
A. |
Currently, we are focusing on providing equipment and training for all responders. We have been able to purchase surveillance equipment; detection equipment for public works, the fire department, and our office; new ballistics vests and masks for the police department and sheriff's department special response teams; helmets for every patrol vehicle; decontamination equipment; vehicles; and a response trailer for the response team; along with other equipment. |
Q. |
HOW DO YOU GET A HOMELAND SECURITY JOB? |
A. |
Our jobs are slightly different than other city employment positions. Only two positions within our department are funded solely by the City of Meridian, with an additional two subsidized by the city. All other positions are based on grant funding availability. Due to these positions being dependent on grants, they are not eligible for civil service status, and appointments are made by the city administration. Anyone interested in a position may fill out a temporary employment application with the City of Meridian personnel office. These applications will be reviewed upon receipt of funding availability. |
Q. |
WHY DOES MERIDIAN NEED AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE? |
A. |
The City of Meridian has followed in the footsteps of many cities with populations of over 35,000. The city found it necessary to ensure we were capable of coordinating our own departments along with any personnel who come from other agencies to assist with emergencies inside the city. We work closely with Lauderdale County and the state of Mississippi during emergencies to ensure as many needs as humanly possible are addressed during these emergencies. By having an emergency management office, we are also capable of ensuring any plans or contracts that will be needed during an emergency are in place prior to an emergency occurring. |
Q. |
HOW DOES MERIDIAN BENEFIT FROM A LOCAL TRAINING FACILITY? |
A. |
Our training facility provides the best training available to our responders, regardless of their field of operations. We host courses also taught by training facilities throughout the country, and make them available to responders from agencies other than ours. In turn, the City of Meridian plays host to students and instructors from throughout the southeast. These people stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants and enjoy shopping and entertainment while they are in our community. |
Q. |
WHO TRAINS AT THE TRAINING FACILITY? |
A. |
Some of the agencies, in addition to our city departments, who have trained at the facility include: Lauderdale County Sheriff and volunteer fire services; Metro Ambulance; Naval Air Station Meridian; Air National Guard from Key Field; Mississippi Department of Transportation; Mississippi Health Department; Mississippi Highway Patrol; Mississippi Office of Homeland Security; Mississippi Emergency Management Agency; Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks; Internal Revenue Services; Alabama Highway Patrol; fire and law enforcement personnel from each of the nine counties near Lauderdale County; Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center; Rush Foundation Hospital; Riley Hospital; Wackenhut; Peavey Security Department; and others |
Q. |
WHAT ACTIONS DOES THE HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT RECOMMEND IF I COME IN CONTACT WITH A SUSPICIOUS PERSON? |
A. |
Our first recommendation is, if you are uncomfortable or suspicious of a person, never confront them yourself. Instead, if you feel you are in immediate danger or that they will leave the area soon, call 911. Be prepared to give the dispatcher as much of their physical description as possible, a brief description of your suspicions along with the person's location, and your fears. You will also need to provide your name, address, and contact information to the dispatcher. If the person is not an immediate threat, you can contact EagleEyes at (601) 484-9722, to report suspicious activity. You can also report the activity online at: http://www.homelandsecurity.ms.gov/report_suspicious_activity.html |
Q. |
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I RECEIVE A SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE? |
A. |
PLEASE DO NOT MOVE THE PACKAGE. Contact 911, and provide them with information regarding your location and your suspicion. The dispatcher will then contact the proper agencies to come to you to take care of the package. To see if your package meets the United Postal Service and Mississippi Department of Homeland Security definition of a suspicious package, you can go to: http://www.homelandsecurity.ms.gov/suspicious_mail.html |
Q. |
I HAVE A GUN. MAY I COME AND SHOOT IT ON THE CITY RANGE? |
A. |
The City of Meridian has strict guidelines to protect everyone on our ranges. For this reason, we allow private citizens to shoot only at designated times of the year. Typically, we host a day or weekend in the spring for handgun usage, and one in the fall for rifle and shotgun usage. |