Governor O’Malley’s 15 Strategic Policy Goals

6. Make Maryland the National Leader in Homeland Security Preparedness by End 2012

As demonstrated by the attacks of September 11, natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, or the recent flooding in the northeast – lives can depend on the basic ability for public safety agencies to respond under the most difficult conditions. To ensure Maryland’s safety, the O’Malley-Brown Administration has set a goal and is implementing a robust plan to lead the nation in homeland security preparedness by the end of 2012.

DHS Homeland Security Grant Funding for Maryland

Each year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security makes multiple homeland security grant programs available to states cities. The two largest grant programs that DHS funds are the State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) and the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI). The SHSGP is a block grant provided to each state receives; the amount is determined by population, risk, and other factors. The UASI is available to the largest metropolitan areas in the nation and is also determined by population and risk.

In Maryland, the Baltimore metropolitan region receives funds from the UASI grant program (Montgomery and Prince George’s counties also receive UASI funds as part of the National Capital Region UASI). For FY2011, Maryland’s share of SHSGP and UASI funds were significantly reduced from the FY2010 levels; SHSGP funds decreased by 50 percent, and Baltimore UASI funds decreased by 29 percent. These cuts in funding reflect a national trend of less FY2011 funds available for states and cities. At the national level, FY2011 funding for SHSGP was reduced by 37 percent and 20 percent for UASI compared to their FY2010 funding levels.