RELEASE:
COCHRAN ANNOUNCES $10.5 MILLION IN FEMA PREPAREDNESS GRANTS FOR MISSISSIPPI
$2.0 Million Awarded for Port Security at Pascagoula, Yellow Creek, Vicksburg & Gulfport
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) today announced that Mississippi will receive more than $10.5 million in state and local preparedness grants, including more than $2.0 million for security measures at four ports.
The grants to Mississippi derive from FY2016 appropriations approved for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant programs to support state and local first responders and emergency management personnel.
“The Senate Appropriations Committee understands the importance of state and local first responders to homeland security. I am pleased that Mississippi organizations successfully competed for available funding to improve local and state emergency preparedness and public safety,” Cochran said.
Cochran is a senior member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, which has funding jurisdiction over FEMA.
The following FEMA grants, totaling $10,524,466, were awarded to Mississippi:
· $4,556,932 in Emergency Management Performance Grant funding for the State of Mississippi to support state, local, and tribal emergency preparedness for the protection of life and property.
· $3,734,500 in State Homeland Security Program Grant formula funding to the State of Mississippi to implement state homeland security strategies, including mitigation, response and recovery from terrorism and other catastrophic events.
· $2,053,034 in competitive Port Security Grant Program funding to implement Area Maritime Transportation and Facility Security Plans to provide port security at four Mississippi ports: Pascagoula, $1.0 million; Tishomingo County/Yellow Creek Port/Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, $477,172; Vicksburg, $446,580; and, Gulfport, $129,282.
· $180,000 in competitive Operation Stonegarden Grant funding to support law enforcement agencies to strengthen border security and enforcement in states with land or international water borders. Three coastal counties will utilize this grant funding: Jackson County, $100,000; Hancock County, $40,000; and Harrison County, $40,000.
In February, Cochran encouraged state and local officials to apply for available FEMA grants, which could be used for emergency preparedness and disaster mitigation.
6/29/16
Magnolia Tribune
