FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ODP
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2002??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 202-307-0703
ALABAMA RECEIVES $5,317,000 TO RESPOND TO
TERRORIST ACTS
WASHINGTON, D.C. ? The Department of Justice announced today
that the State of Alabama will receive $5,317,000 to enhance its ability to
respond to acts of terrorism involving biological or chemical agents or
nuclear, radiological, or explosive materials.
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?Our nation?s emergency first responders
courageously stand on the front line in our fight against terrorism.? This grant highlights the Administration?s
and Department of Justice?s commitment to providing states and local emergency
first responders the resources they need to respond to any future acts of terrorism,?
said Attorney General John Ashcroft.
?This grant is part of a larger federal effort to ensure the safety of
our nation against future acts of aggression.?
The funds, awarded by the Department?s Office
of Justice Programs (OJP), will be used to purchase specialized equipment for
emergency response agencies, including law enforcement personnel, fire and
emergency medical services and hazardous materials response units, who are the
first responders to terrorist acts involving weapons of mass destruction (WMD).? The funds will also be used for WMD training
exercises.? The grant is awarded under
the FY 2002 State Domestic Preparedness Program, administered by OJP?s Office
for Domestic Preparedness (ODP).? Under
this program, the Justice Department will provide more than $315 million for states
to purchase emergency first responder equipment and conduct WMD exercises.
Alabama previously received $2,400,000 in
equipment funds as part of the FY 2001 State Domestic Preparedness Equipment
Program.?
Using ODP funding, all 50 states, the
territories, and the District of Columbia can purchase a wide array of
equipment including personal protective equipment; chemical, biological or
radiological detection and decontamination equipment; communications equipment;
physical security enhancement equipment; WMD technical rescue equipment;
general support equipment; and medical supplies and limited types of
pharmaceuticals.
To qualify for the FY 2002 funding, states,
territories, and the District of Columbia first had to conduct a comprehensive
assessment of risk, capabilities and needs related to a potential terrorist
attack, develop a multi-year Statewide Domestic Preparedness Strategy, and
apply for their FY 2001 domestic preparedness equipment funds.? States use their statewide strategies to
guide spending of these funds.
The Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP)
was established in Fiscal Year 1998 and is the Justice Department's primary
program office responsible for enhancing the capacity of state and local
jurisdictions to respond to, and reduce the consequences of, incidents of
domestic terrorism.? For more
information on the Office of Domestic Preparedness (ODP) and other OJP
programs, please see OJP's Website at:? www.ojp.usdoj.gov/.
Media calls should be directed to David Hess in OJP?s Office of
Congressional and Public Affairs at 202-307-0703.
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