"I applaud President Bush and Homeland Security Secretary Ridge for their continued efforts to protect high density population areas and infrastructure as part of the national strategy," said Gov. Ehrlich. "These grants will put us closer to the level of security that the citizens of Maryland expect and deserve."
The federal government allocated $500 million to 30 cities and their contiguous counties and mutual aid partners. Of that amount, the city of Baltimore and its contiguous counties will receive $10.9 million. The funds are for operational activities conducted during the heightened alert level from January, 2003 through April, 2003, critical infrastructure security, training, exercises, equipment and information sharing.
Of the $700 million in federal funds, $65 million has been allocated for mass transit security to states that operate the highest risk transit systems. Of that amount, the Maryland Mass Transit Administration of the Maryland Department of Transportation will receive $1.2 million. Twenty percent of the funds may be used for installation of physical barricades, area monitoring systems such as video surveillance, motion detectors, thermal and/or infrared imagery systems and chemical and/or radiological material detections systems, integrated communications systems as well as prevention planning, training and exercises. The funds may also be used for operational activities conducted during ORANGE alert from January, 2003 through April, 2003 (overtime limited to 10 percent of the total award).
