Thursday, May 1, 2003 | 9:35 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- The federal grants for homeland security are set to pour into Nevada.
The U.S. Office of Domestic Preparedness announced Wednesday that Nevada was eligible for $17.9 million to help state and local public safety officials buy equipment and to use in planning and training to meet emergencies.
Frank Siracusa, director of the state Emergency Management Division, said he had expected only $5 million to $6 million from this grant. He added he had just submitted an application for $6 million available from a prior federal grant application.
Siracusa said $2.3 million of the $17.9 million will be used to shore up "critical infrastructure" such as water and electrical systems. Half of that $2.3 million will go to local governments and the other half goes to the state.
Of the remaining $15.5 million, 80 percent will go to local governments and 20 percent to the state. He said this will provide the money for first responders -- firefighters, paramedics and police -- to be better prepared to handle emergencies.
The money will allow local emergency responders to purchase equipment -- protective clothing, detection equipment and vehicles. Jerry Bussell, homeland security adviser to Gov. Kenny Guinn, said one critical need is for communication equipment so that state and local governments can "transition" into one system.
The goal, Bussell said, is to ensure that the Nevada Highway Patrol can communicate with police, firefighters, sheriffs' departments, emergency health officials or forestry personnel.
"The two largest counties are down the road on this right now. We have to improve in other areas," Bussell said.
In announcing the grant Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said, "This funding for the men and women on the front lines of the war on terrorism is essential. We do not underestimate the role that the state and local governments play in protecting American citizens against the threat of terrorism."
The state will have until May 30 to submit its application for the money. Siracusa said his division must get approval from the Legislature to accept the money, and local governments will submit applications to the state to share in the fund.
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