Philadelphia, December 8 – Philadelphia has been elevated from a Tier 2 Urban Area to a Tier 1 Urban Area as part of the Department of Homeland Security Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grant program for fiscal year 2010. UASI grant funds are used to address the unique multi-discipline planning, operations, equipment, training and exercise needs of high-threat, high-density urban areas, and help them prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from acts of terrorism. The new designation will provide millions of dollars in additional grant funding. In fiscal year 2008, the Philadelphia Urban Area received approximately $18 million in Homeland Security Grant Program funds.
“We are pleased that the Department of Homeland Security has recognized the strategic importance of Philadelphia,” Mayor Michael A. Nutter said. “This new designation will allow Philadelphians to be better protected if and when an emergency strikes.”
“Urban Area Security Initiative grants play a major role in our efforts to work with Mayor Nutter, Governor Rendell and Philadelphia residents to build a culture of readiness and resilience,” said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. “This year’s guidance focuses on maximizing efficiency and value while prioritizing risk in awarding grants to strengthen our security.”
Philadelphia will join seven other Tier 1 Urban areas: California: Bay Area; California: Los Angeles/Long Beach Area; District of Columbia: National Capital Region; Illinois: Chicago Area; New Jersey: Jersey City/Newark Area; New York: New York City Area; Texas: Houston Area.
Regional security collaboration efforts deserve credit for Philadelphia’s recognition. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Task Force has demonstrated its commitment to taking a collaborative approach to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies. The task force has formed specialized units such as the Major Incident Response Team (MIRT), SWAT, and Hazardous Materials teams.
“The Philadelphia region is home to more than 3.5 million people, landmarks that have irreplaceable historical value to our nation, and critical infrastructure components that make our region a hub for commerce and
transportation throughout the East Coast,” said Governor Rendell. “This creates considerable challenges when it comes to planning and executing our response to emergencies, whether they be man-made or natural. This new designation gives us access to greater resources that we can put to work strengthening our defenses and improving our response capabilities. That’s important for the safety of southeastern Pennsylvania and the people who live and work there.”
Southeastern Pennsylvania is a national hub of business and industry, with a population of over 3.5 million people. Philadelphia’s vital highways, such as I-95 and the PA Turnpike, and rail systems, including the
Northeast Rail Corridor, are essential conduits to national commerce. Critical regional infrastructure includes the Limerick Nuclear Power Plant, PJM Interconnect (a multi-state electric grid control center), the Port of Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia International Airport.
