FEMA Awards $291 Million To States For Emergency Management 

Release Date: May 16, 2008
Release Number: HQ-08-73

WASHINGTON, DC -- Officials from the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have released $291 million to assist states and local governments to sustain and enhance all-hazards emergency management capabilities. This funding promotes state and local jurisdictions to engage in comprehensive national and regional planning processes that seek to enhance emergency management and catastrophic capabilities through strengthened national and regional relationships. The emergency management community has been awarded more than $1 billion since fiscal year 2004 through the EMPG program.

"FEMA remains committed to providing assistance to ensure states have the resources to effectively plan, coordinate, and prepare against all kinds of hazards, including both natural and man-made," said FEMA Administrator David Paulison. "An all-hazards approach to preparedness, including the development of a comprehensive program of planning, training, and exercises, sets the stage for an effective and consistent response to any threatened or actual disaster."

Lessons learned from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita highlighted the critical importance of effective catastrophic all-hazards planning. The EMPG awards support a wide range of emergency management activities, including planning, to further reinforce the state’s ability to support state and local priorities while simultaneously addressing issues of national concern.

With a focus on preparedness planning for FY 2008, state and local jurisdictions will use EMPG funding to address evacuation planning, logistics and resource management, continuity of operations/continuity of government planning, and recovery planning. In addition, the funding may be used for equipment, training, exercises, maintenance of emergency response programs, and public education.

For more information on the fiscal year 2008 EMPG and allocation amounts, please visit: www.fema.gov

FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror. 

Last Modified: Friday, 16-May-2008 11:12:02