WASHINGTON — WASHINGTON - The federal government is slicing more than $2.5 million from homeland security grants to Baltimore and Maryland this year - a deeper cut than state officials were told to expect.
While increases to some of the largest U.S. cities and states meant total funding nationwide went up, most jurisdictions saw similar declines, according to figures released yesterday by the Department of Homeland Security.
The money will be used to improve capabilities for a chemical or nuclear "event," standardize training and equipment among various agencies and jurisdictions, and test the preparedness of the city and state. One such use of the money will come Aug. 2, city officials said, when they will simulate a response to a "catastrophic event" at M&T Bank Stadium that will include police, medical and news media relations operations to test how well Baltimore is prepared for such an event.
Even with the 8 percent decrease, city and state officials said the nearly $30 million in grants coming to Baltimore and Maryland will meet funding needs for various programs, training initiatives and infrastructure improvements to prepare for disasters and attacks.
But that doesn't mean everyone was satisfied. Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger noted the factors that pose a higher security threat for the Baltimore region: the presence of the National Security Agency, major air and seaports, strategically significant military installations and its proximity to Washington.
"We have some very significant areas that could be targets," the Baltimore County Democrat said. "I'm unhappy with the fact that we got a cut from last year."
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the department doled out the money according to the quality of grant applications and newly applied factors such as population density and metropolitan boundaries that include the surrounding areas of most cities. The pool of cities eligible for the money also increased, he said, which reduced the amount available to others.
Chertoff said the money is awarded based on risk and in a "disciplined, common-sensical" manner.
"We have reduced our vulnerabilities" in the five years of the program's existence, he said. "Almost $30 billion in funds pays off."
The department will give the Baltimore area nearly $11.6 million - about the same as Miami and Phoenix - through its Urban Area Security Initiative. That's a drop of $357,500, or about 3 percent, from last year. Metropolitan Washington will get $59.8 million -- down $1.8 million, also 3 percent.
