Local Governments Receive Federal Homeland Security Funds

The Courthouse Journal
Washington Association of County Officials
Washington State Association of Counties
July 3, 2003

Washington State is receiving more than $40 million in federal homeland security money made available in the federal fiscal year '03 budget and '03 supplemental budget. Local governments, either individually or through their Regional Homeland Security Coordinating Districts, are receiving a significant portion of this assistance. No local match is required.

For detailed information about local distributions contact Jim Schoonover of the state Emergency Management Division (j.schoonover@emd.wa.gov) or your county director of emergency management.

Following is a general breakdown for how the funds are being distributed and for what purposes:

For FFY '03. Total to Washington: $11,294,000. Funds are already obligated

• Equipment ($7,926,000): $6,340,800 (80 percent) of the equipment is allocated to local jurisdictions. The key factor in determining how much and what type of equipment each jurisdiction received was based upon priorities submitted by the jurisdictions. The remaining 20 percent is allocated to interoperable communications equipment for the Washington State Patrol.
• Training ($594,000): For centralized awareness level training for first responders by various training and educational institutions throughout the state.
• Exercises ($1,981,000): Each of the nine Regional Homeland Security Coordinating Districts (RHSCD) has received $204,000 (for a total of $1,836,000) for tabletop and functional exercises. Every county participates in one of these regions. The remaining $145,000 will administer the exercise program and conduct state-level exercises.
• Planning and Administration ($793,000): $300,000 was awarded to counties ($6,000 plus proportion based upon population), $100,000 is paying for a statewide critical infrastructure study, and $393,000 is funding the State EMD Terrorism/Homeland Security Program.

For FFY '03 Supplemental. Total to Washington: $29,917,000. State will obligate funds by July 28, 2003.

• $3,989,000 of the funds are provided for 1) public safety agency overtime costs; 2) contract security personnel costs; and, 3) state-ordered National Guard deployments required to augment security at critical infrastructure during the period of hostilities with Iraq (during the time period of March 17, 2003 through April 16, 2003) and future periods of heightened threat.
• $25,928,000 of these funds will be used as indicated below with 80 percent ($20,742,400) passed through to local governments to be used in the categories indicated below. Twenty percent is retained at the state level. Unlike previous grants, no categorical funding breakout is required; however, the funds must and will be used as indicated below.
• EQUIPMENT: To enhance capabilities in the areas of law enforcement, emergency medical services, emergency management, fire service, hazardous materials, public works, public health, governmental administrative, public safety communications, healthcare and public health at the state and local levels. The equipment for local jurisdictions will be purchased by the local jurisdictions using state bulk purchasing contracts and pursuant to state and federal guidelines.
• TRAINING: To enhance the capabilities of state and local first responders. Allowable training-related costs include overtime costs associated with attendance at specified courses.
• EXERCISE: To plan for, design, develop, conduct and evaluate exercises that train emergency responders and assess the readiness of jurisdictions to prevent and respond to a terrorist attack.
• PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION: To pay for activities associated with the completion of the FY 2003 assessment and strategy update process, as well as for costs associated with implementing overall state homeland security strategy.
• The $5,185,600 retained at the state level is intended for the Washington Military Department to administer the grant program and activities, and to the Washington State Patrol for interoperable radio equipment.
• The recommended local govern portion of the funding is as follows :
  • $60,000 to each county and each of the nine regions for a total of $2.88 million. These funds may be used to support personnel, e.g. provide for full-time county emergency management director.
  • $17.58 million to be distributed to the nine Regional Homeland Security Coordinating Districts based upon population. Regions may distribute these funds to individual counties, tribes, cities and other entities based upon regional needs and collective priorities.
  • $240,000 to support a study of local emergency management programs and conducted by the Task Force on Local Program Assessment, which was established in January 2003 by the state Emergency Management Council.