The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Friday announced more than $1.5 billion in FY ’13 preparedness grants to support state, local, tribal and territorial partners, with the lion’s share of the funding going toward the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP).
The HSGP program, which will distribute $968 million, is for states and urban areas to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other threats. Of this amount the State Homeland Security Program will provide $354 million, the Urban Areas Security Initiative $559 million and Operations Stonegarden, which enhances coordination and cooperation among law enforcement agencies at different levels of government, $55 million.
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| FBI members arriving to scene of Boston Marathon bombings in April. Photo: DHS |
“The FY 2013 preparedness grants facilitate one of the department’s key priorities, establishing readiness, and providing support and resources to our state, local and tribal partners as they take steps to prepare and build capabilities before events affect our communities,” Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a statement. “This past year alone, we saw the value of these grants and their ability to support important response efforts.”
The next largest allocation, $332 million, is under the Emergency Management Performance Grants Program, which helps governments in enhancing and sustaining all-hazards emergency management capabilities.
The Port Security and Transit Security Grant Programs, which provide funds for protection of critical infrastructure and mass transit systems, will receive $93 million and $83 million, respectively.
Several other grant programs, the Tribal Homeland Security Program, the Intercity Passenger Rail-Amtrak Program, and the Nonprofit Security Program each will receive about $10 million.