Wisconsin Awards Homeland Grants to Counties

Wisconsin Gov. Scott McCallum announced last week that $4 million in federal terrorism preparedness equipment grants would be made available to Wisconsin counties.

The grants, which range from $17,728 to $403,155, will be used to buy personal protective, detection, monitoring and communications equipment, and physical security enhancements and medical supplies for first responders. The money will go to county emergency management offices for distribution to local law enforcement, fire departments and EMS. To date, with the addition of these latest grants, more than $7.8 million in federal terrorism grant money has been awarded to Wisconsin counties.

"September 11 made all of us realize that our local emergency officials must be properly equipped and ready to respond," McCallum said. "The heightened alert issued today by the FBI shows the importance of making sure our communities are prepared."

The grant announcement comes as the FBI is warning state and local authorities that recent taped statements by al Qaeda leaders may signal that another attack on the United States is planned.

Wisconsin Emergency Management received approval for the equipment grants from the federal Office of Domestic Preparedness. Distribution of the grants is based on risk, vulnerability, capability and population. Local agencies should contact their county emergency management office for information on applying for equipment grants.

In addition, bomb squads located in Milwaukee, Kenosha, Brown, Marathon and Dane counties each are receiving $50,000 in equipment grants to help provide regional coverage.

The $4 million in terrorism grants announced today is part of the $5.9 million that was awarded to the state of Wisconsin last month for terrorism preparedness. Of the remaining $1.9 million, $400,000 will be allocated for training throughout Wisconsin and the balance will be distributed for regional and statewide terrorism preparedness efforts.