The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) has received a federal grant worth more than $1.2 million to help its anti-terrorism efforts, according to a press release.
In its grant proposal, IEMA outlined its four-year plan to include an analysis of capabilities in thwarting attacks at the regional and statewide levels, work on fixing any capability shortfalls and proper training provisions. The grant money is expected to bolster its efforts to prepare for, respond to and prevent terrorism.
“Terrorist organizations are promoting and engaging in attacks around the world that have the potential to stress our collective emergency response capabilities like never before,” IEMA Director James Joseph said, according to the press release. “An attack of this nature would have severe and long-lasting consequences for both the affected community and the state. This grant will enable us to undertake a comprehensive, multi-year project that will strengthen our resiliency for such attacks.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which provided the grant, also gave the city of Aurora $1.3 million and the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications $699,502, according to the press release.