Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX28) announced that the City of San Antonio has received a federal investment of $1 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, to expand and improve homeland security preparedness.  The funds are specifically geared to high risk urban areas and San Antonio was one of only three cities in Texas to receive the funds. 

“In the first hours and days after an emergency, the burden of responding falls almost entirely on local and regional first responders – the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) has a proven track record of success giving first responders the tools they need to respond to terrorist attacks and other disasters,” said Congressman Cuellar.  “I have supportive of increased funds for the UASI program as a Member House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security and in collaboration with the San Antonio congressional delegation and I am pleased to see the City of San Antonio receive this federal investment that will keep our community safer and support the men and women who are the first to arrive when we need them most.”  

San Antonio received UASI funding in Fiscal Year 2012 but not last year in Fiscal Year 2013.  The UASI program provides $587,000,000 to address the unique planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise needs of high-threat, high-density urban areas, and assists them in building an enhanced and sustainable capacity to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism.  Thirty nine cities across the country received the funds for Fiscal Year 2014. 

For more information on the UASI program, visit http://www.fema.gov/fy-2014-homeland-security-grant-program-hsgp.