New grants will improve US readiness for disasters 
Janet Napolitano and Craig Fugate announce the new FEMA grants
US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano have announced nearly $1.8 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) preparedness grants designed to help states, urban areas, tribal governments and non-profit agencies improve their readiness by enhancing protection, prevention, response and recovery capabilities for all disasters. Secretary Napolitano was joined by FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate in announcing the grants.
"These grants provide direct support for regional preparedness, urban security and medical response efforts in communities across the country," said Secretary Napolitano. "The new grants management initiative launched this year will generate better value for every grant dollar while strengthening our nation's ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from all disasters."
The grant program allocations announced today incorporate specific steps undertaken by DHS to improve the ability of state and local partners to apply for and utilize FEMA grant funding:
- Considering stakeholder feedback when targeting allocations;
- Ensuring that state, local, territorial and tribal governments understand how funds can be utilized to sustain long-term projects; and
- Developing a more transparent and efficient application process.
Since 2002, FEMA has allocated more than $28 billion in grants to bolster our nation's preparedness, response and recovery capabilities in response to terrorist attacks and other major disasters. A large portion of the allocation targets are based on risk, and the initiatives funded by these allocations are the result of strategic considerations.
Preparedness Grant Program Allocations for Fiscal Year 2009
Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) - $1.7 billion will be split between:
- State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) - $861.1 million will build and strengthen preparedness capabilities at all levels through planning, equipment, and readiness activities.
- Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) - $798.6 million will enhance urban preparedness capabilities in 62 high-threat, high-density areas. The seven highest risk areas (Tier 1) were allocated approximately $439 million, or 55 percent of available funds, while the remaining areas (Tier 2) will receive approximately the remaining $359 million.
- Metropolitan Medical Response System Program (MMRS) - $39.8 million, divided evenly among 124 MMRS jurisdictions, will improve regional mass casualty incident preparedness and response capabilities.
- Citizen Corps Program (CCP) - $14.6 million will bring community and government leaders together to engage citizens in community preparedness, response and recovery activities.
State Homeland Security Program Tribal (SHSP Tribal) - $1.7 million will be provided directly to eligible tribal applicants to implement preparedness initiatives.
Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) - $15 million will support target-hardening activities at non-profit organizations at high risk of a terrorist attack.
Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program (RCPGP) - $34 million will enhance catastrophic incident preparedness in selected high-risk urban areas and support technical assistance funding in FY 2009. RCPGP supports coordination of regional planning for catastrophic events.
