WASHINGTON, DC – Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation today announced that
the state is scheduled to receive $7,380,473 in federal funding to help
emergency responders and their partners prepare for and react to a range of
crises and security challenges – including natural disasters. U.S.
Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin
and David Cicilline today announced that the state will receive the federal
national preparedness funds, which are awarded by the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) and will be administered by the Rhode Island Emergency
Management Agency (RIEMA).
The federal funds are designed to help Rhode
Island government agencies and organizations build capabilities at the state
and local levels to prepare for, respond to, and recover from regional and
national emergencies, disasters, and mass-casualty events, in addition to
providing for enhanced training and the purchase of essential
equipment. The funds may be used to help the state and local responders
purchase new safety equipment and emergency power generators, or conduct rescue
and public safety training to ensure first responders are prepared for a
variety of situations.
“I am pleased to have helped secure this
federal funding to better equip our police and emergency responders. Our
first responders and emergency management professionals are our first line of
defense and these federal grants will enhance public safety and improve the
state’s ability to prevent and respond to disasters. From hurricane
preparedness to mass-casualty events, we want to ensure our first responders
have the training and resources they need to be ready for a variety of
situations,” said Senator Reed.
“The first responders and emergency personnel
who put their lives on the line to keep Rhode Islanders safe deserve the very
best training and equipment to do their jobs,” said Senator Whitehouse.
“These federal funds will help ensure Rhode Island is prepared to address any
kind of disaster, from a hurricane to a national security emergency.”
“Our first responders put their lives on the
line every day to keep our communities safe,” said Congressman Langevin,
a senior member of the House Committee on Homeland Security. “This
funding will provide the training, equipment and resources necessary to ensure
our state and local emergency personnel can prepare for and respond to any
disaster they may face, including new threats facing Rhode Island in
cyberspace. I am also pleased that non-profits in the state, including places
of worship and other high-risk organizations, will be eligible for funding for
the first time.”
“It’s critical that Rhode Island’s first
responders can do their jobs as safely and effectively as possible. This new
federal funding will ensure that Rhode Island is prepared to respond to
emergency situations whenever and wherever they occur,” said Congressman
Cicilline. “I will continue working to ensure Rhode Island gets its
fair share of federal resources.”
Specifically, Rhode Island will receive:
State Homeland Security Program (SHSP)
Funding: $3,980,000
This program provides support for the
implementation of state homeland security risk-driven strategies to address
identified planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise needs to
prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of
terrorism and other catastrophic events.
Emergency Management Performance Grants
(EMPG): $3,300,473
This funding provides grants for emergency
preparedness to assist state and local governments in enhancing and sustaining
all-hazards emergency management capabilities. Administered by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the EMPG Program provides necessary
direction, coordination, and guidance, and assistance, so that a comprehensive
emergency preparedness system exists for all hazards.
Nonprofit Security Grant Program: $100,000
The Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)
provides funding support for target hardening and other physical security
enhancements and activities to nonprofit organizations.
Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation noted
that President Trump’s proposed budget seeks to slash the State Homeland
Security Program by $157.6 million and reduce the Emergency Management
Performance Grants by over $70 million. All four members of the
delegation strongly oppose these proposed cuts and are working to restore this
critical funding as the appropriations process moves forward.