LA County OKs $13M In DHS 'Urban' Terrorism Funds
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The Board of Supervisors on Monday allocated $13.6 million in federal funds to enhance Los Angeles County's ability to respond to terrorism.
The money, from the Department of Homeland Security, will be used to fund coordinated training and preparedness exercises, as well as buy equipment and technical assistance.
Most of the dollars will be split between the Sheriff's Department, which will receive $6.1 million, and the Fire Department, which was allocated $5.6 million. The balance will go to the Office of Emergency Management and the county's healthcare departments.
County agencies will also buy equipment, like a $1 million vehicle designed to handle hazardous chemical and biological materials and a mobile device to detect radiation levels, along with less high-tech equipment, like the breathing apparatus worn by firefighters.
The federal Urban Area Security Initiative Grant was established to address the unique equipment, training, planning and exercise needs associated with addressing threats of terrorism in large urban areas.
The Los Angeles-Long Beach metropolitan area received a total of $54.6 million under the grant. That amount was slightly more than 10 percent of the total offered to the 10 urban areas deemed by federal officials to be at highest risk of a terrorist attack.
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