FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? OJP
FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2002???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 202/307-0703
TEXAS RECEIVES $9,169,000 FOR EQUIPMENT
TO RESPOND TO TERRORIST ACTS
WASHINGTON, D.C. ? The Justice Department
today announced that the State of Texas will receive $9,169,000 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.
This grant 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 grant is 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).
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