WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to ensure that Rhode Island’s emergency responders and their federal partners are prepared to react to a range of crises and security challenges – from plane crashes to natural disasters to a mass-shooting – U.S. Senator Jack Reed today announced that the state is eligible for over $7 million in federal national preparedness funds.

The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA), which administers the funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), is holding Preparedness Grant roll-out meetings on March 29 in Lincoln and on April 1 in Portsmouth for interested parties, which may include State, local, and tribal governments, as well as nonprofit organizations and the private sector.  The state and eligible partners must submit their applications to FEMA by April 25, 2016 and final allocations will be determined during the last week of June. 

“Whether it is a snowstorm, a hurricane, or some other large scale disaster, preparedness is critical and these federal funds are a smart investment in enhancing the state’s emergency response capabilities,” said Senator Reed, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.  “I commend RIEMA and all our first responders for the excellent work they do to enhance safety.  It is critical that we provide them with the resources they need to adequately prepare, plan, and train for all kinds of disasters and hazards.”

Rhode Island is eligible for up to $3,734,500 in in federal funding from the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP), $3,306,975 through the Emergency Management Performance Grant Program (EMPG), as well as funds through the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant (HMEP).

Through his work on the Appropriations Committee, Senator Reed helped make $402 million available nationwide for SHSP, $350.1 million for EMPG, as well as over $28.3 million for HMEP in the fiscal year 2016 Omnibus Appropriations law.

These federal preparedness grants are targeted to help state and local agencies and organizations prepare for, respond to, and recover from regional and national emergencies, disasters, and mass-casualty events, in addition to providing for enhanced training and the purchase of essential equipment. 

For more information on each grant and guidance for how to apply, visit: http://www.fema.gov/preparedness-non-disaster-grants or http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/grants-program

For questions about the grant roll-out meetings, contact RIEMA’s Grants Coordinator at (401) 462-7063.

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