The City of San Antonio has secured a $3.25 million grant through the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to address terrorism preparedness efforts.
The $1.75 million funding increase from FEMA’s Urban Area Security Initiative would bolster initiatives to prevent, protect against, mitigate and respond to terrorist acts in the wake of the city’s growth while hosting events with hundreds of thousands of visitors, including Fiesta and the NCAA Final Four.
Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX) recently invited FEMA leadership to San Antonio to witness crowds and security operations during Fiesta. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Hurd voted for a funding increase to ensure communities have the resources to keep residents safe.
“San Antonio’s population is growing more quickly than that of any other city in our State and routinely hosts events that attract hundreds of thousands of visitors like Fiesta and the NCAA Final Four,” Hurd said. “It’s imperative that our local public safety officers have the level of equipment necessary for them to do their jobs and keep folks safe.”After I invited FEMA leadership to attend Fiesta to see security operations firsthand, the FEMA officials left with a better understanding of the tremendous crowds we draw at home and the urgency for our police and fire departments to have updated resources.”
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said he is grateful the Department of Homeland Security agreed the additional funding request was merited.
“Our need is real and we will put the additional funding to good use for protecting our community against a terrorist attack,” he said. “It is a priority.”