Nevada getting $8.4m in disaster, security grants

WASHINGTON — Nevada will receive $8.4 million in state and local security grants this year, including $3 million to guard against an attack on Las Vegas, the Department of Homeland Security announced on Tuesday.

The figures are final allocations for a variety of grant programs run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The $3 million for Las Vegas through the Urban Area Security Initiative initially was disclosed in April, along with a $3.7 million grant to the state of Nevada for preparedness.

The government on Tuesday announced another $4.4 million to Nevada for other emergency planning.

Overall, $1.6 billion was distributed to states and territories, money that has come to be prized by communities to bolster local planning and preparedness

In Las Vegas, money from the so-called UASI program helped establish the Southern Nevada Counter-Terrorism Center, a headquarters for local, state and federal agencies that monitor potential threats to the valley.

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman said in a statement she was "relieved and thrilled" the $3 million award for Las Vegas was a jump from $1 million last year.

"Las Vegas needs the additional funding due to the size of our metro area and because of our 40 million visitors each year," she said.

Contact Review-Journal Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@reviewjournal.com or 202-783-1760. Find him on Twitter: @STetreaultDC.