2010 DHS Grant Purpose

Day-to-day disasters continue to highlight the critical importance of effective catastrophic all-hazards preparedness, which includes prevention, mitigation, protection, response, and recovery activities. An all-hazards approach to emergency management preparedness, including the development of a comprehensive program of planning, training, and exercises, provides for an effective and consistent response to disaster or emergency, regardless of the cause.

As appropriated by the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111-83), the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG) Program provides $329,799,991 to assist State and local governments in enhancing and sustaining their all-hazards emergency management capabilities. The EMPG Program requires a 50 percent Federal and 50 percent State cost share, cashor in-kind, match, as authorized by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Public Law 93-288), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5207. Specifically, Title VI, sections 611( j ) and 614.

A comprehensive State emergency management system must include local stakeholder input. Local emergency management organizations should remain informed and have the opportunity to provide input to State planning processes. Although DHS expects States to include support for their local jurisdictions in the EMPG Program, each Governor is responsible for determining the appropriate amount of funding to be passed through to support the development or enhancement of local emergency management performance capabilities.

An essential component in achieving State emergency management goals and target capabilities involves establishing strong working relationships with neighboring jurisdictions. These relationships are necessary for developing performance capabilities that leverage joint operations, mutual aid and support local, regional, tribal, State-to-State, and nationwide priorities, particularly when responding to a catastrophic event. States have the flexibility to leverage FY 2010 EMPG Program funds to develop intraand inter-state emergency management systems that encourage building partnerships across all levels of government and with non-governmental organizations.

National Priorities

The eight National Priorities as identified in the National Preparedness Guidelines continue to be instrumental in guiding our local, tribal, and State stakeholders’ homeland security needs. Specifically, the Implement NIMS and NRF, Expand Regional Collaboration, and Strengthening Planning priorities continue to have a direct complement to the scope, mission, and funding audience members of the EMPG Program.

Stakeholder recipients of EMPG Program funds should continue to strategically align their emergency management performance activities and projects to support the overarching objectives of HSPD - 5 and 8 and the three National Priorities noted above. It is important to note, however, that this does not preclude stakeholders from focusing on the traditional uses of EMPG Program funding. Those traditional uses of funding should naturally complement the overarching strategic guidance and direction embodied through the documents noted.

Department of Homeland Security Mission and Supporting Responsibilities

The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security recently identified five responsibilities to assist the Department in achieving its mission to secure our Nation. Of those identified, the fourth responsibility – Improving our Readiness for, Response to, and Recovery from Disasters - directly support the Department’s engagement in working with our emergency management stakeholders to develop and administer this
Program. One of many ways in which this responsibility is being implemented is through the EMPG Program.

While the EMPG Program is inherently a grant funding opportunity to assist stakeholders in improving emergency performance capabilities, it is also a robust and transparent Program which involves both day-to-day and long-term strategic relationships. FEMA personnel maintain close relationships with the emergency management community in order to ensure that the Program is developed to meet the needs of such stakeholders. Close relationships are also maintained in order to allow FEMA to analyze lessons learned, best practices, and overall progress made in achieving identified needs and goals.

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