R.I. receives $8M in federal funds for emergency preparedness

U.S. SEN. JACK F. REED, center, said federal funds will "help address security vulnerabilities and enhance the state’s emergency response capabilities." / BLOOMBERG NEWS PHOTO/ANDREW HARRER
U.S. SEN. JACK F. REED, center, said federal funds will "help address security vulnerabilities and enhance the state’s emergency response capabilities." / BLOOMBERG NEWS PHOTO/ANDREW HARRER

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island will receive $8 million in federal national emergency preparedness funds, the Rhode Island congressional delegation said Thursday.
The funds, awarded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, will be administered by the R.I. Emergency Management Agency, and are intended to help the state’s emergency responders and their federal partners react to crises and security challenges such as plane crashes, natural disasters and mass casualty events. Funds also will be used to provide for training and equipment purchases.
“Whether it is a major storm or an attack like the ones we’ve seen in places like Paris, Istanbul and Orlando, preparedness is critical and these federal funds will help address security vulnerabilities and enhance the state’s emergency response capabilities,” U.S. Sen. Jack F. Reed said in a statement. “I commend RIEMA and all our first responders for the excellent work they do and I am pleased to help deliver these federal funds to make our communities safer.”
U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said the federal funds will help ensure that the state’s first responders “have the resources to support efforts to keep Rhode Islanders safe when faced with disaster.”
The funding breaks down as follows:

  • State Homeland Security Program Funding: $3,734,500. This program provides support for the implementation of state homeland security risk-driven strategies to address identified planning, organization, equipment, training and exercise needs to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other catastrophic events.
  • Emergency Management Performance Grants: $3,306,975. This funding provides grants for emergency preparedness to assist state and local governments in enhancing and sustaining all-hazards emergency management capabilities. Administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, this program provides direction, coordination and assistance so that a comprehensive emergency preparedness system exists for all hazards.
  • Port Security Program: $1 million. This program provides grants to help protect critical port infrastructure, enhance maritime domain awareness, improve port-wide maritime security risk management, and maintain or re-establish maritime security mitigation protocols that support port recovery and resiliency capabilities. In addition, the Newport Fire Department will receive $723,375 and the state Department of Environmental Management will receive $276,625 for programs related to port security, training, exercises and surveillance.
  • Intercity Bus Security Grant Program: $24,670, These funds may be used by owners and operators of intercity bus systems to protect critical bus surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism and to increase the resilience of bus transit infrastructure.

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