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Municipalities in the Central New York region, including Syracuse and the counties of Onondaga, Oneida, Oswego, and Madison, are set to share nearly $220 million in federal funding. The funds, provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through its FY2024 Homeland Security Grant Program, are aimed at supporting emergency preparedness and counterterrorism operations.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the funding, stating that it will help communities across New York State prevent, respond to, and recover from manmade and natural disasters and emergencies. "New York State boasts the strongest and most capable emergency preparedness forces in the nation, and thanks to this federal funding we are making sure we have the best resources available to protect our communities,” Governor Hochul said.
The funding will be managed by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services in close coordination with local stakeholders. The funds will be used for planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise activities, all of which are critical to sustaining and improving community prevention, protection, response, and recovery capabilities.
The Homeland Security Grant Program is comprised of three separate risk-based grants aimed at assisting state, local, and tribal efforts in preventing, preparing for, protecting against, and responding to acts of terrorism. These programs are the State Homeland Security Program, the Urban Area Security Initiative, and Operation Stonegarden.