By: Jerry Burke
Shortly after Governor George Pataki's State of the State address last month, state Senator Michael Balboni (R-East Williston), chair of the Senate committee that oversees homeland security issues, highlighted the $3.8 million Nassau is slated to receive in 2005.
"New York City and the areas surrounding it continue to be at risk for terrorist attack," Balboni said last week. "The new dollars will definitely boost community resources to prevent, prepare for and respond to terrorism and other disasters."
While New York City will receive almost $203 million of the state's $298.3 million in proposed grants, Nassau County will receive $2 million from the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), a grant program designed to specifically assist areas of high population density.
In addition, Balboni said that Nassau will receive $1.25 million from the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) and $600,000 from the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program.
The Department of Homeland Security selects urban areas and provides UASI funds based on a formula that takes into account factors including population density, amount and vulnerability of critical infrastructure and credible threat information. Nassau County, with a population of 1.34 million, received $1 million from the UASI program last year, far less than cities of similar population. Philadelphia, with a population of 1.48 million, received $23 million, while Phoenix, population 1.39 million, received $12.1 million. It should be noted, however, that the program does tend to favor cities with busy international airports and well-defined business districts.
Still, Balboni believes the addition funds for Nassau County are a step in the right direction. "The fact that we received as much funding as we did shows that Washington is listening to us and taking us seriously," he said.
Terry Winters, Director of Planning for the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management, said Monday that the check is not quite yet in the mail. "It's going to take time to sort out exactly who gets what and what we will spend it on," said Winters, who explained that while the funds have been announced, the exact amounts could vary depending on federal and state budget alterations.
"We're happy to receive the funds," said Winters, "but it would be premature to promise anything yet." He said that the $1 million the county received last year has been earmarked primarily for equipment and supplies for first responders, and specifically for decontamination suits.
Winters said the agency is also preparing for a series of training exercises involving the use of weapons of mass destruction and the "hardening" of a location based on a security threat.
"I want to thank our Congressional delegation who worked hard to help make sure that New York got the resources that it deserves," Pataki said in a press release last week. "I hope that we can work together with Congress to continue to enhance threat-based funding throughout all homeland security grant areas in order to rightfully recognize the needs of New York."
Other areas benefiting from the UASI expansion will be Suffolk and Westchester counties, both of which are slated to receive $2 million in Homland Security funds. New York City is set to receive $166 million, Buffalo $6.3 million and Niagara County $500,000.
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