DE to Receive $20 million to Enhance Homeland Security

Washington, DC – U. S. Senators Joe Biden (D-DE) and Tom Carper (D-DE), and Congressman Mike Castle (R-DE) announced today that Delaware will receive more than $20.2 million from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to help prepare the State to respond to incidents of terrorism involving the use of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive weapons. The federal funds will go directly to the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA), the office responsible for implementing the State’s Homeland Security Strategy. DEMA can use the funding to purchase additional emergency responder equipment and to help train first responders to deal with potential terrorist attacks. “The reality is that the first people to respond to a terrorist attack will almost certainly be local police and firefighters,” said Senator Biden. “We cannot charge them with the enormous responsibility of protecting us without also giving them the resources, the training and the equipment they need to get the job done.” “The first line of defense against any terrorist attack will be our first responders,” said Carper. “This money will help make Delawareans safer and more prepared in the event of a terrorist attack or other emergency.” “This funding is most critical to our brave men and women on the ground training to serve our state as first responders. It will help provide them with the resources and equipment they need to prepare for and respond to a possible terrorist attack, while also being properly trained to use it. We will work with DEMA and the state to ensure this money gets in the hands of those who need it most,” Castle said. The money will be forwarded to Delaware upon the Department of Homeland Security’s approval of Delaware’s updated antiterrorism plans, expected in the coming months.