Delaware Receives $6.9 Million in Preparedness Grants

WILMINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons and U.S. Representative John Carney (all D-Del.) announced two grant awards totaling more than $6.9 million from the Department of Homeland Security to support emergency preparedness and response in Delaware. The state received a $3,734,000 State Homeland Security Program grant and a $3,233,715 Emergency Management Performance Grant Program grant award.

This funding supports Delaware’s efforts to prevent, mitigate, respond to, and recover from manmade and natural disasters.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, especially when it comes to the health and safety of our citizens,” said Sen. Carper. “These important funds help Delaware maintain and improve its ability to respond to any and all disasters. This funding is critical to ensuring state and emergency response officials in Delaware have the tools they needs to effectively respond should a disaster strike.”

“We always hope for the best, but we must also prepare for the worst when it comes to protecting our families and our communities,” said Senator Coons. “These federal funds will allow us to continue to invest in emergency preparedness and help ensure that our first responders have the resources they need to protect all Delawareans in an emergency.”

“We don’t like to think about it, but emergencies can happen at any time. When they do, there is no substitute for being prepared,” said Congressman Carney. “This federal funding will allow the Department of Homeland Security to do more of what it does best: protect Delawareans when we need it most. The Department has proven time and again their commitment to serving our state, and this funding gives me even more confidence that we’ll be prepared if a disaster occurs.”

“These federal preparedness grants provide critical funding to our public safety community ensuring that we stand ready to protect our citizens and the visitors to this State. We are grateful to have a supportive Congressional delegation that helps us stay prepared for the unexpected,” said Secretary Lewis D. Schiliro, Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

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