The FY 2012 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) plays an important role in the implementation of Presidential Policy Directive – 8 (PPD-8) by supporting the development and sustainment of core capabilities to fulfill the National Preparedness Goal (NPG). The following are descriptions of each HSGP component programs. HSGP is comprised of three interconnected grant programs:
- State Homeland Security Program (SHSP)
- Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI)
- Operation Stonegarden (OPSG)
All three programs are founded on risk-driven, capabilities-based strategic plans. These strategic plans outline capability requirements and inform how available funding may be applied to manage risk. For these plans to be effective, government officials and elected leaders, working with the whole community, must consider how to sustain current capability levels and address potential shortfalls to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond to, and recover from disasters.
SHSP supports the implementation of risk driven, capabilities-based State Homeland Security Strategies to address capability targets set in Urban Area, State, and regional Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (THIRAs). The capability levels are assessed in the State Preparedness Report (SPR) and inform planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise needs to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other catastrophic events.
The SHSP is a core assistance program that provides funds to build capabilities at the State, local, tribal, and territorial levels, to enhance our national resilience to absorb disruptions and rapidly recover from natural disasters and terrorist incidents as well as to implement the goals and objectives included in State homeland security strategies, and shortfalls in core capabilities as identified in THIRAs and the SPRs. Activities implemented under SHSP must support national preparedness by building or enhancing capabilities that relate to the prevention of, protection from, mitigation of, response to, and recovery from terrorism in order to be considered eligible. However, many capabilities which support terrorism preparedness simultaneously support preparedness for other hazards. Grantees must demonstrate this dual-use quality for any activities implemented under this program that are not explicitly focused on
terrorism preparedness.
HSGP funding priorities in FY13 include:
- Implementation of NPS and the Whole Community Approach to Security and Emergency Management
- Building and sustaining law enforcement terrorism prevention capabilities
- Maturation and Enhancement of State and Major Urban Area Fusion Centers
- Innovation and Sustained Support for the National Campaign for
Preparedness
- Priority Five: Improve Immediate Emergency Victim Care at Mass Casualty Events