| FEMA Awards Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG)
May 16, 2008 -- 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. 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. |