Kentucky to Receive $4,838,849 for Emergency Management Capabilities

Press Release

Kentucky to Receive $4,838,849 for Emergency Management Capabilities

U.S. Representative Harold "Hal" Rogers (KY05) announced today that Kentucky is slated to receive $4,838,849 in U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Emergency Management Performance Grants. These funds assist state and local emergency operations centers - the coordination hubs during multi-agency responses to potential terrorism and natural disasters. Emergency management agencies bring together law enforcement, fire, EMS and public health, to coordinate government resources and maximize preparedness, response and recovery measures.

"We must enable our first responders on the front lines to work seamlessly with each other," said Rep. Rogers. "These funds will increase Kentucky's ability to manage those complex, multi-jurisdictional incidents where seconds count and lives are at stake. Given the recent severe storms in the Bluegrass state, this grant will be imperative to continue to make important strides in communication and coordination amongst first responders and implement solutions to the lessons learned from this national emergency across our Commonwealth."

The Emergency Management Performance Grant program provides funding to State agencies, including the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security, to boost capabilities at emergency operations centers across the country. DHS will release $306,022,000 for this program to improve nationwide preparedness and response in 2009.

Rogers is the Ranking Member on the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, which writes the federal budget for DHS and has direct oversight of the Department's wide-ranging security efforts. As a senior member of this committee, Rogers works to secure funding for important initiatives in Kentucky.

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