It was through Homeland Security and was for specific projects for our county EOC. It fit under some funding set up for emergency communications updating/maintenance. So, if you can keep your eyes open searching, you may find an appropriate grant program to help. In our case, it helped having our Emergency Government office help write and support our efforts.
Ah! But your ARES group had to sell their collective souls to HSA!
Did you ever read that Document they want you to sign? No thanks!
LAst time I checked, there is also mandatory training involved as well. In effect, you are then like a para signal corps supporting Americas KGB.
After it's all said and done, the county doesn't give ARES the time of day in emergency situations here anyway.
It's "standby, the professionals have this under control"
The only thing in our contract to receive the funds was a provision that the work be done by licensed contractors and a copy of all receipts as proof of use of the funds. The rest of it was the scope of the grant, what it will be used for, and the reason the grant should be issued. Oh yes, and that the money had to be used for the actual item(s) applied for or the funds returned. Was a simple 1-page award letter.
Not sure what kind of contract you looked at.
We train annually with our county and were utilized during the flood of 2008. Our group helped coordinate sandbag filling, distribution, and fielded the requests from public officials as well as private citizens requests.
There is a difference on how you are received by others depending on your attitude of what needs to be done, and the willingness to accomplish it. Even if what needs to be done is handing a victim a cup of coffee.
If you need a reward or some form of acknowledgement for helping, you're in the wrong business.