FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? DOJ
THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2002???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 202/307-0703
NEW JERSEY RECEIVES $4,040,000 FOR EQUIPMENT
TO RESPOND TO TERRORIST ACTS
WASHINGTON, D.C. ? The Justice Department
today announced that the State of New Jersey will receive $4,040,000 to enhance
its ability to respond to acts of terrorism involving biological or chemical
agents or nuclear, radiological, or explosive materials.? ????
?Courageous local police, firefighters and
EMTs were first on the scene in the horror of September 11, and many others
like them will be first on the scene of any future attack.? These grant funds demonstrate the
Administration?s commitment to equipping those on the domestic front lines ?
our state and local emergency first responders ? to respond to terrorist
attacks,? said Attorney General John Ashcroft.
?The grants are an important part of our nation?s fight against
terrorism, and representative of the federal, state and local cooperation
necessary for us to win that fight.??
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 grant is awarded under the
FY 2001 State Domestic Preparedness Equipment Program, administered by OJP?s
Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP).
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 equipment; chemical, biological or radiological
decontamination equipment; and communications equipment.?
To qualify for 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, and
develop a multi-year Statewide Domestic Preparedness Strategy.? States will use their statewide strategies
to guide their 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 mitigate the consequences of, incidents of
domestic terrorism.? Since 1998, ODP has
provided nearly $250 million in equipment grants to all 50 states, the
territories and the District of Columbia.
In addition, ODP provides coordinated training, technical assistance,
and support for federal, state, and local preparedness exercises.
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 or
877/859-8704 (pager).
###
OJP02110