FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ODP
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2002??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 202-307-0703
ILLINOIS RECEIVES MORE THAN $10 MILLION TO PREPARE FOR
AND RESPOND TO TERRORIST ACTS
WASHINGTON, D.C. ? The Department of Justice announced today that the State of Illinois
will receive $10,604,000 to enhance its ability to respond to acts of terrorism
involving biological or chemical agents or nuclear, radiological, or explosive
materials.? ????
?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.
Illinois previously received $5,765,000 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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