CNMI allocated $2.72M as DHS security grant

The CNMI will be receiving a $2.72 million grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to help the islands enhance its ability to prepare for and respond to terrorist attacks and other disasters.

The department announced the availability of the grant yesterday when it named the recipients of $1.7 billion in fiscal year 2006 Homeland Security Grant Program awards.

“Our goal is to greatly enhance the collective preparedness of the nation while making certain that finite resources are directed to areas most at risk and to solutions that are innovative and regionally driven,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “The department is committed to ensuring that our partners have the training, equipment, and resources they need to become better prepared.”

The CNMI’s share is slightly lower than that of Guam, which will get $2.73 million. Of all U.S. territories, Puerto Rico will get the biggest share ($7.72 million), followed by American Samoa ($4.69 million), and the U.S. Virgin Islands ($2.74 million).

The CNMI funding will be allocated based on the following breakdown: State Homeland Security Grant Program ($1.7 million), Law Enforcement Terrorism and Prevention Program ($970,000), and Citizen Corps ($50,668).

In fiscal year 2006, DHS adopted a risk and effectiveness-based approach to allocating funding for certain programs within HSGP. This approach aligns federal resources with national priorities and targets capabilities established by the Interim National Preparedness Goal to generate the highest return on investment in increasing the nation’s level of preparedness.

“Preparedness must be a shared responsibility,” said Tracy Henke, Assistant Secretary for the DHS Preparedness Directorate’s Office of Grants and Training. “State and local homeland security professionals from across the nation played a significant role in the design and implementation of this fiscal year’s grant program. By collaborating, we ensure consistency of effort and a common vision of preparedness.”

HSGP funds can be used for planning, organization, equipment, training, exercises, management, and administration costs. The 2006 funds are in addition to the approximately $10 billion already delivered to state and local governments by the department’s Office of Grants and Training since September 11, 2001.

HSGP includes five separate grant programs: State Homeland Security Grant Program, $544.5 million; Urban Areas Security Initiative, $757.3 million; Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program, $396 million; Metropolitan Medical Response System, $29.7 million; and Citizen Corps Program, $19.8 million.

Under the State Homeland Security Grant Program and Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program, each state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico receives a base amount of .075 of the total award. The territories of Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, and Virgin Islands receive a base amount of .025 of the total award. The remaining funds are allocated on risk and the effectiveness of applicants’ proposed solutions to identified needs. All Urban Areas Security Initiative funds are allocated based on risk and the effectiveness of the applicants’ proposed solutions to identified needs. The Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) grant program distributes funds equally among each of the 124 MMRS jurisdictions. Under the Citizen Corps grant program, each state and territory receives a base allocation, with remaining funds distributed based on population.

Grants and Training, a component of the DHS Preparedness Directorate, partners with federal, state, local, and private sector officials to strengthen the capabilities of state, local, tribal, and regional authorities to prepare for, prevent, and respond to terrorist acts and other catastrophic incidents. Grants and Training provides a broad array of assistance to America’s emergency responders through funding, coordinated training, exercises, equipment acquisition, and technical assistance. (PR)