"These funds are critical to Ohio's ability to prevent, respond to and recover from potential acts of terrorism or catastrophic natural disasters," Taft said. "Ohio pledges to use the 2006 Homeland Security funds wisely and effectively to meet the critical needs and priorities of state and local agencies."
Earlier this year, state and local officials gathered at regional meetings to identify key priorities for 2006 funding. The priorities identified included: interoperable communications; law enforcement, intelligence and information sharing; chemical-biological-radioactive-nuclear-explosive response; security of critical infrastructure and key assets; statewide regional collaboration; exercises; mass care and citizen protection; medical metropolitan response; and citizen corps.
