FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ODP
TUESDAY,
SEPTEMBER 10, 2002??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 202-307-0703
VIRGINIA RECEIVES $3,476,000 FOR EQUIPMENT TO RESPOND
TO TERRORIST ACTS
WASHINGTON, D.C. ? The Department of Justice announced today that the Commonwealth of
Virginia will receive $3,476,000 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 demonstrates 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.? ?This 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 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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