$185 MILLION FOR HOMELAND SECURITY

Submitted by ub on

New York has received over $185 million in state and federal homeland security grants to municipalities across New York State. The funding will support critical infrastructure protection, sustain anti-terrorism programs in New York City, and enhance core emergency preparedness and response functions in counties statewide.

“From September 11th to Superstorm Sandy, our first responders and local law enforcement agencies have been essential to protecting New Yorkers and keeping our communities safe,” Governor Cuomo said. “These grants are vital to supporting their work, and I am confident that they will go a long way toward building a stronger and more resilient State.”

The funding for these programs was made available by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP), the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grant, and the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG). The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) manages these programs in close coordination with local stakeholders.

DHSES Commissioner Jerome M. Hauer said, “DHSES distributes critically important grant funds to local municipalities and first responders that help them fortify their preparedness and response capabilities. These grant funds will aid our local first responders in providing the most efficient and effective protective services to their communities.”

Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Grant Program $161.1 million

DHSES awarded funding to jurisdictions in the New York City metropolitan area under the FY2014 Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grant. The region will use this money to sustain and enhance their critical anti-terrorism programs. Based on federal guidelines, 80% of the UASI award is allocated to partners in the region’s Urban Area Working Group (UAWG), using a consensus-based process, and the consensus agreement for these funds is outlined below.

An additional $18 million will also be allocated to the City of New York from the State’s portion of FY2014 UASI grant, in recognition of the City’s unique position in terms of potential threats from terrorist-related activities.

FY2014 UASI Grant Awards

New York City: $139,887,478 (*includes $18 million from the State’s portion of the UASI grant)
Nassau County: $2,652,733
Suffolk County: $2,652,733
Westchester County: $2,652,733
City of Yonkers: $2,652,733
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey: $10,674,978