WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rhode Island’s Congressional Delegation today announced the state will be receiving approximately $19.5 million in Homeland Security funding for Fiscal Year 2008. Included in this amount is approximately $5.15 million designated under the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) program.
In January, Providence qualified for UASI for the first time. UASI targets funding in high-threat, high-density urban areas. Eligibility is based on a number of factors, including critical infrastructure and actual threats received.
“I am pleased Rhode Island and the city of Providence will receive this critical homeland security funding,” said Senator Reed, who worked closely with officials at the Department of Homeland Security to include Providence on the list of 39 eligible urban areas for homeland security funding through the UASI program. “This money will help train and equip emergency management officials and first responders to protect the public and respond to any threats or disasters our community may face.”
“Initiatives like UASI help ensure that Rhode Island and other states receive enough homeland security funding to prepare for emergencies and keep our people safe,” Senator Whitehouse said. “I’m proud that efforts to expand the funds available to us, begun last year by Rhode Island’s congressional delegation, have paid off. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure our state has the resources it needs to secure our state’s population and infrastructure.”
“Homeland security must begin at home,” said Congressman Kennedy. “I am pleased to support the needs of our first responders by assisting them with the necessary funds needed for additional personnel, training and equipment. This is the kind of investment we make in our communities that enhances our sense of security and quality of life by supporting those who work everyday to keep us safe.
“It is no secret that first responders in Rhode Island and across the country are being asked to do more with less, however, with the addition of UASI funding their jobs may become a little easier,” said Congressman Langevin, a member of the Homeland Security Committee. “We all know that Rhode Island was initially predicted to take a major homeland security funding cut and my colleagues and I have worked hard to make sure that didn’t happen. With the announcement of these numbers, our state appears to have fared better than expected, in large part because of UASI resources.”
“I want to thank Rhode Island‘s congressional delegation for working tirelessly with members of my administration to designate Providence as a UASI community,” said Mayor David N. Cicilline. “This designation will ensure that the Providence area UASI communities have the resources they need to protect our residents. By using federal dollars to make critically important improvements in homeland security, we are ensuring that Rhode Island will be one of the safest states in America.”
Fiscal Year 2008 Homeland Security funding for Rhode Island:
- $7.36 million – Public Safety Interoperable Communications Grant Program
- $5.15 million – UASI program
- $3.82 million – State Homeland Security Grant Program
- $2.73 million – Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program
- $258,145 – Metropolitan Medical Response System
- $140,368 – Citizen Corps Grant
The Providence Urban Area is made up of nine communities within a ten mile radius of the City of Providence that make up 60 percent of the state’s population. There are 21 Extremely Hazardous Substances (EHS) facilities located in this region. The city’s port includes large LNG and LPG distribution tanks, and the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier protects 280 acres of the downtown area from flooding that could impact thousands of residents and over $4.7 billion in assessed property.
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