WASHINGTON (18 June) – U.S. Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-Fla.), the only Florida member on the House Homeland Security Committee, today announced the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded more than $73 million in federal security grants to the state of Florida to bolster emergency preparedness and protect critical infrastructure. The funding includes nearly $8 million to the Tampa Bay area through the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) to aid local law enforcement in keeping our neighborhoods secure.

“Security and preparedness begins in our local communities, and I am pleased that the Department has provided this important funding to the state and cities, especially as we enter Hurricane Season,” said Bilirakis. “Distributing these funds to the areas that need them the most will provide direct support for preparedness, security and medical response efforts in our state.”

Funding heading to the state of Florida and its cities includes:

•  $35.4 million, including $7.8 million specifically for the Tampa area through the Urban Area Security Initiative Allocations (UASI). The funding will help communities prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism.
  
  
• $34.1 million through the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) to implement homeland security strategies, such as preventing and recovering from acts of terrorism and catastrophic events.
  
  
•  $2.2 million through the Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS). The funding will better enable agencies to prepare for and respond to a mass casualty event in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale.
  
  
•  $630,795 through the Citizen Corps Program (CCP), which will enable community and government leaders to coordinate preparedness, response and recovery activities with residents.

Since 2002, FEMA has allocated more than $28 billion in grants to strengthen our nation’s preparedness, response and recovery capabilities in response to terrorist attacks and other major disasters.

Further information on preparedness grant programs is available at www.dhs.gov.