In case you haven’t heard the news already, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will award eight preparedness grant programs totaling more than $1.7 billion in fiscal year 2019. The grants, like usual, are reflective of the Department’s focus on funding for programs that address our nation’s immediate security needs and ensure public safety in our communities. As such, they will provide funding to states and local governments, as well as transportation authorities, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector, to improve the nation’s readiness for terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies.

“The administration remains committed to strengthening the security and resilience of our state and local communities,” said Deputy DHS Secretary, David Pekoske. “The DHS grant programs are flexible by design and will be used to help address evolving threats. They will go toward building and sustaining capabilities across all levels of government and the whole community to maximize preparedness.”

Here’s how the $1.7B in grants for emergency preparedness in FY2019 stack up:

  • Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG)—provides $350M+ to assist state, local, tribal and territorial governments in enhancing and sustaining all-hazard emergency management capabilities
  • Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)—provides $1B+ for states and urban areas to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism or other threats
  • State Homeland Security Program (SHSP)