News Releases for July 2003
July 3, 2003
Contact: Sue Reinertson, Division of Emergency Management
(701) 328-8100
Hoeven Announces $13.2 Million In Homeland Security Funding For Communities And State
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today announced that North Dakota will receive $11.4 million from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enhance the capabilities of state and local first responders. An additional $1.8 million allocation is available to the state to offset the costs of enhanced security measures during the recent Operation Liberty Shield, which covers the Orange Alert period of the Iraqi war, between March 17 and April 16. In total, North Dakota will receive about $13.2 million to enhance security for cities and counties statewide.
The Division of Emergency Management (DEM) will distribute 80 percent of the funds to cities and counties across North Dakota, while the state will retain 20 percent to help address the highest state-level priorities in preparedness. The funds will be used to strategically place first responder equipment in communities throughout the state, as well as for training, planning and exercises on a statewide basis.
"Our first priority is protecting the lives and property of North Dakota citizens,” Hoeven said. “We appreciate our federal partners working with us to help meet our Homeland Security needs to enhance our preparedness, prevention and response capabilities throughout the state.”
During face-to-face meetings and conference calls, state and local officials established priorities for effective use of the funds. Those priorities will be provided to the DHS for final approval and release later this summer. The Division of Emergency Management will then seek spending authority from the State Emergency Commission.
“This funding will help to boost the capabilities of local jurisdictions to implement Homeland Security measures,” said Doug Friez, State Homeland Security Coordinator and Director of the N.D. Division of Emergency Management.
Priorities officials hope to address include equipment for first responder protection and statewide interoperable communications, as well as equipment for detection and decontamination related to chemical, biological and radiological weapons. Additionally, in partnership with the N.D. League of Cities and N.D. Association of Counties, intense exercise and training to community and county officials will be made available statewide. The funding will also be used to enhance state and local emergency operations plans to deal with Homeland Security and other potential disasters.
Since the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the U.S. Congress has accelerated approval of a wide range of programs designed to strengthen local abilities to respond to terrorist attacks.
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