Staffing for adequate fire and emergency response (SAFER)

The Borough of Seaside Heights received a $375,600 Project Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program (CFDA 97.083), awarded on December 19, 2025, with a completion date of December 18, 2029. This funding supports firefighter hiring and recruitment and retention efforts to help the borough meet industry minimum standards and maintain adequate emergency response staffing levels.

The SAFER program provides direct operational funding to eligible local government recipients to enhance fire department capabilities and ensure 24-hour staffing sufficient to protect communities from fire and fire-related hazards. The award to Seaside Heights enables the borough to strengthen its public safety infrastructure by addressing critical staffing gaps in its fire services, supporting both recruitment of new personnel and retention of existing firefighting staff to fulfill the core missions of the fire department.