Gov. Tim Kaine announced today that the state has allocated $23.4 million in State Homeland Security Program funds to localities. September is National Preparedness Month.
The funds, provided by the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are intended to enhance local resources in the event of acts of terrorism or natural disasters.
The Law Enforcement Operations will receive around $9.3 million to expand a counter-terrorism statewide system.
About $1.7 million will be awarded to the Enhanced Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive Devices Capabilities project to purchase new equipment that enables the detection and monitoring of possible weapons of mass destruction.
In the event of a massive evacuation, the DHS awarded the Statewide Shelter Planning and Enhancement project $2.27 million in order to prepare shelters and purchase software to register, track and reunite families that have been displaced.
About $1.5 million is dedicated to the development of a smart card identity system for emergency responders to access disaster areas.
The Emergency Patient and Resource Registry, to track patients from disaster area to local or nearby hospitals will receive $1.4 million.
About $1.6 million will go to Virginia Citizen Corps programs, the Ready Virginia public outreach campaign, and the training and education of local citizens in the event of a terrorist attack.
The DHS distributes these funds according to what they consider terrorism risk factors, potential impact of such events and a demonstrated need.
Gov. Tim Kaine has announced the allocation of $23.4 million in State Homeland Security Program funds.