Program Highlights

FY 2005 Accomplishments

• G&T introduced the Interim National Preparedness Goal under Homeland Security Presidential Directive – 8. The Goal establishes a strategic preparedness framework for Federal, state, local, and tribal entities to prevent, protect, respond, and recover from an Incident of National Significance, whether natural or man-made. The Goal establishes readiness priorities, targets, and metrics. It will enable the nation to answer three key questions: How prepared are we?; How prepared do we need to be?; and How do we prioritize efforts to close the gaps?

• G&T conducted the Top Officials (TOPOFF) Exercise 3 in FY 2005, the largest full scale terrorism simulated exercise in the nation’s history. Collectively, G&T has conducted over 400 exercises at the national, state, and local levels through FY 2005.

• As part of the Administration’s priority to provide funding on the basis of risk and threat, G&T overhauled the Transit Security Grant Program and the Port Security Grant Program in FY 2005 in order to ensure grants were awarded to entities facing the greatest threat and that those receiving funds represent assets of the highest strategic importance. Further, G&T successfully consolidated the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and the Emergency Management Performance Grant Program, after acquiring these programs from FEMA.

• G&T launched the Cooperative Training Outreach Program (CO-OP) to expand first responder preparedness training across the country by permitting the states to identify and approve institutions within their states, territories, or tribal entities that can adopt and deliver DHS standardized training courses. CO-OP enables state and local instructors to teach first responder training courses at community colleges, public safety academies, state and private universities, and other facilities.

• Since 9/11, G&T has awarded more than $8.6 billion in assistance to our nation’s emergency first responder communities. $2.1 billion has been allocated to 58 urban areas within the U.S. as part of the Urban Area Security Initiative through FY 2005, which provides grants to our nation’s large urban areas to enhance the capabilities of the region to prevent, protect and respond to acts of terrorism.