The federal government has pledged $7 million to go toward emergency management and preparedness in the state of Rhode Island. The money is part of an effort to improve the state’s safety, and will be administered by the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA). The money will be used directly to help governmental agencies in the state with three primary objectives: preparing for emergencies, responding to emergencies, and recovering from emergencies.
Authorities in many states are continuing to increase emergency funding for preparedness, response, and recovery as a result of continuing dangers which range from terrorism, to weather related emergencies, to natural disasters.
The Rhode Island grant comes in the wake of 2012’s devastating hurricane Sandy, which significantly affected New York and New Jersey, both states which are also located in the Northeast. When discussing the grant, U.S. Senator Jack Reed cited the devastating storm, as well as the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, saying “Events like Hurricane Sandy and last year’s Boston Marathon bombing are reminders that disasters can strike at any moment, and so, it’s important for our first responders to be prepared and well equipped,”
The grant will come two primary quantities:
- $3,733,000 from the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP)
These funds are part of a program that is designed to help states prevent, mitigate, and respond to catastrophic events, such as acts of terrorism.
- $3,314,806 from the Emergency Management Performance Grants Program
These funds are designated to help state and local governments develop and implement a coherent system for direction, guidance, and coordination in the case of an emergency.
The grant was announced in late March by the state’s Congressional Delegation and the state’s governor Lincoln D. Chafee, and is part of the State Homeland Security Program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
