"In 2005 the region received $10.3 million in federal funding," said Shawn Graff, Director of the Portland Office of Emergency Management. "There was a cut across the board nationally this year, and we just learned the UA has been awarded $9.36 million. Compared with other areas, our cut wasn't as significant, some areas were cut by as much as 50 percent."
Says Graff, "The urban area leadership submitted well-written investment justifications based on a regional risk and need assessment."
In a release issued May 31st, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff explained, "Our goal is to greatly enhance the collective preparedness of the nation while making certain finite resources are directed to areas most at risk and to solutions that are innovative and regionally driven. The department is committed to ensuring our partners have the training, equipment, and resources they need to become better prepared."
New to the grant allocation process in fiscal year 2006, is the DHS risk and effectiveness-based approach, a competitive process requiring states to justify funding based on defined regional need and innovative solutions to address those needs.
The next step is for the regional emergency management body to meet to prioritize the award investment.
In the past, funding has gone to fire departments, police agencies, emergency management agencies, some public works agencies that have response functions, communications centers, and key agencies identified in the regional strategy.
