FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ODP
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2002?????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????202-307-0703
WASHINGTON RECEIVES MORE THAN $6 MILLION
TO RESPOND TO TERRORIST ACTS
WASHINGTON, D.C. ? The Department of Justice announced today
that the State of Washington will receive $6,276,000 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.
Washington previously received $2,993,000 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: http://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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