The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced it has allocated $345 million for six fiscal year 2018 competitive preparedness grant programs. In June, more than $1.3 billion in noncompetitive grant funding was announced.
Preparedness grants are used to support the National Preparedness Goal and the National Preparedness System. Funds are used to protect against, respond to, and recover from major disasters, terrorist attacks, and other emergencies.
“DHS is committed to building a culture of preparedness with our government, private sector, and nonprofit partners nationwide so we are ready when disaster strikes,” DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said. “The DHS grant programs are flexible by design and purposed to help address our evolving risk environment. Response and recovery to catastrophic events strain our communities’ logistics, supply chains, communications, and staffing capacities. When these events occur, time is our most valuable resource. That is why our preparedness grant programs build and sustain critical capabilities today, so we will be ready tomorrow.”
This year’s grants were awarded to law enforcement and terrorism prevention activities in high-risk areas, including urban areas that face the most significant threats.
Awards made to state and urban areas for the Homeland Security Grant Program are obligated to make funds available to local governments.