(Washington, D.C.)–Congressman Jim Langevin today announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has officially awarded $5,489,000 to the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (EMA) to provide the state with the financial resources to better prepare and equip Rhode Island's first responders.

 "Congress and DHS have an important responsibility to our first responders across the country," said Congressman Langevin, a member of the Select Committee on Homeland Security.  "Firefighters, law enforcement officers, health care workers, and others on the front lines at the state and local level need our support to keep America safe.  This federal assistance will help make Rhode Island more secure and better prepared to respond to any disaster, natural or otherwise."

 According to the DHS, the state EMA will use the grant funding for the purchase of emergency responder equipment; costs related to planning, conducting and evaluating chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) terrorism exercises; establish CBRNE-related awareness level training capabilities in the state; and for administrative and planning costs associated with the Office of Domestic Preparedness State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) and updating and implementing the State Homeland Security Strategy (SHSS).

 DHS adds that the state is making its equipment, exercise and training requests based on the needs identified in its current SHSS and making its planning and administrative requests based on requirements associated with updating and implementing the SHSS and for administration of the SHSGP.

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