While local, state, and federal emergency response and public health agencies continue to do battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, recent federal funding will help agencies and organizations better prepare for the threat of future crises and disasters.
Recently, the federal government allocated billions of dollars in grant funding to go to emergency preparedness for a wide variety of sectors across the United States.
On June 30, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the third and final grant allocation of $385 million, combined with allocations of $1.3 billion in February and April 2020, for a total of $1.8 billion. Grants were awarded to state and local agencies, tribal and territorial governments, and nonprofit and private sector organizations to bolster preparedness capabilities and efforts. According to DHS, the preparedness grants help “prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies in support of the National Preparedness Goal and the National Preparedness System.”
Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf praised the grant initiative for helping FEMA and DHS in “modernizing preparedness capabilities throughout the nation.”
“Through initiatives like these, we are equipping our state and local partners to protect their communities and keep their residents safe,” Wolf said. “Never has this been more critical than in today’s environment. As a Department, we look forward to seeing the new initiatives, protocols and resources that will be implemented and bolster security as a direct result of these programs.”
This year’s DHS grant cycle focused on four “critical priority areas for attention” including cybersecurity, soft targets and crowded places, intelligence and information sharing, and emerging threats.
Here is the list of Preparedness Grant Allocations for FY 2020***:
Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG)—provides $355.1 million to assist state, local, tribal and territorial governments in enhancing and sustaining all-hazards emergency management capabilities.
Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)—provides more than $1 billion for states and urban areas to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other threats.
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- State Homeland Security Program (SHSP)—provides $415 million to support the implementation of risk-driven, capabilities-based State Homeland Security Strategies to address capability targets. States are required to dedicate 25 percent of SHSP funds to law enforcement terrorism prevention activities.
- Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI)—provides $615 million to enhance regional preparedness and capabilities in 32 high-threat, high-density areas. States and Urban Areas are required to dedicate 25 percent of UASI funds to law enforcement terrorism prevention activities.
- Operation Stonegarden (OPSG)—provides $90 million to enhance cooperation and coordination among local, tribal, territorial, state and federal law enforcement agencies to jointly enhance security along the United States land and water borders.
Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (THSGP)— provides $15 million to eligible tribal nations to implement preparedness initiatives to help strengthen the nation against risk associated with potential terrorist attacks and other hazards.
Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)— provides $90 million to support target hardening and other physical security enhancements for nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack. This year, $50 million is provided to nonprofits in UASI-designated urban areas, and $40 million is provided to nonprofits located in any state or territory.
Intercity Passenger Rail – Amtrak (IPR) Program— provides $10 million to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism and increase the resilience of the Amtrak rail system.
Port Security Grant Program (PSGP)—provides $100 million to help protect critical port infrastructure from terrorism, enhance maritime domain awareness, improve port-wide maritime security risk management, and maintain or reestablish maritime security mitigation protocols that support port recovery and resiliency capabilities.
Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP)—provides $88 million to owners and operators of transit systems to protect critical surface transportation and the traveling public from acts of terrorism and to increase the resilience of transit infrastructure.
Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP)—provides $2 million to owners and operators of intercity bus systems to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism and to increase the resilience of transit infrastructure.
*** Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
press release, June 30, 2020
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