100% Reimbursement Grant Program


The Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Grant Program is a crucial component of the broader Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP), administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Its primary purpose is to enhance the preparedness of high-threat, high-density urban areas to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism.

Here's a breakdown of key aspects:

1. Program Objectives:

• Terrorism Prevention and Protection: UASI funds are specifically designed to build and sustain capabilities necessary to prevent threatened or actual acts of terrorism, and to protect citizens, residents, visitors, and critical assets.
• Addressing Unique Urban Challenges: It recognizes that large urban areas face unique challenges due to their population density, critical infrastructure, and potential as targets. The program helps these areas develop multi-discipline planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise needs.
• Building Core Capabilities: UASI supports the implementation of the National Preparedness System and the achievement of the National Preparedness Goal by enhancing 32 "core capabilities" across the five mission areas of Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery.
• Regional Collaboration: The program emphasizes regional collaboration, encouraging jurisdictions within a designated urban area to work together to enhance overall security and preparedness.

2. Funding and Allocation:

• Risk-Based Allocation: UASI funds are allocated based on DHS/FEMA's risk methodology, which considers the relative risk of terrorism faced by the 100 most populous metropolitan statistical areas in the United States.
• State Administrative Agencies (SAAs): Funds are awarded to State Administrative Agencies (SAAs), which in Texas is the Governor's Office, Public Safety Office (PSO). The SAA then passes through a significant percentage (at least 80%) of the funds to eligible local units of government within the designated urban areas.
• Texas Designated Urban Areas: In Texas, the designated high-risk urban areas that receive UASI allocations include:
  • Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington Area
  • Houston Area
  • San Antonio Area (This includes the City of Schertz)
  • Austin Area
• Annual Availability: UASI grants are generally available annually, with specific funding amounts and application deadlines announced by FEMA each fiscal year. For example, in FY 2024, $553.5 million was available nationally for UASI.

3. Eligible Activities and Priorities:

UASI funds can be used for a wide range of activities that align with the program's objectives and address identified capability gaps. These include:

• Planning and Organization: Development of emergency operations plans, continuity of operations plans, communications plans, and fostering whole-community partnerships.
• Equipment: Purchase of specialized equipment with a clear nexus to terrorism preparedness, such as cybersecurity enhancements, interoperable communications devices, and critical infrastructure protection tools. (General agency use equipment is typically not allowed unless directly tied to terrorism prevention).
• Training: Development and delivery of training programs for first responders, emergency management personnel, and other stakeholders.
• Exercises: Conducting drills and exercises to test preparedness plans and capabilities.
• Information and Intelligence Sharing: Enhancing systems and personnel for collecting, validating, and disseminating intelligence related to terrorism threats.
• National Priority Areas: FEMA often identifies specific "National Priority Areas" for funding. For example, in FY 2024, these included:
  • Enhancing protection of soft targets/crowded places
  • Enhancing information and intelligence sharing and analysis
  • Combating Domestic Violent Extremism (DVE)
  • Enhancing cybersecurity
  • Enhancing community preparedness and resilience
  • Enhancing election security (with a minimum 3% spend requirement).
  • A minimum percentage of funds (35% in FY24) must also be spent on Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Activities (LETPA).

4. Schertz Eligibility and Application Process:

• Location within Designated Urban Area: Schertz, Texas, is located within the greater San Antonio Area, which is a designated high-risk Urban Area for UASI funding. This makes Schertz potentially eligible for sub-grants.
• Working with the Urban Area Working Group (UAWG): To access UASI funds, the City of Schertz would need to engage with the San Antonio Urban Area Working Group (UAWG). The UAWG is responsible for:
  • Holding application planning workshops and workgroups.
  • Facilitating application prioritization within the urban area.
  • Approving projects before they are submitted to the Texas Public Safety Office (PSO).
• Application Submission: Once a project is approved by the UAWG, the City of Schertz would then access the PSO's eGrants website to complete and submit its application.
• Alignment with THIRA/SPR: Proposed projects should align with the needs identified through the area's Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) and Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR) process, which identifies capability gaps.

In summary, the UASI program provides vital funding to enhance homeland security capabilities in urban areas like the greater San Antonio region, of which Schertz is a part. For Schertz to benefit from these grants, active engagement with the San Antonio Urban Area Working Group and alignment of proposed projects with regional and national preparedness priorities are essential.
 

This UASI Grant seeks to enhance city, county, and regional preparedness and response capabilities by procuring essential equipment for a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), specialized rescue equipment for the fire department, and Rescue Task Force (RTF) equipment for the fire department which is utilized during multi-disciplinary (Police, EMS, and Fire) response during active attack events. The primary goal is to strengthen the jurisdiction's ability to effectively manage complex incidents, including natural disasters, technological hazards, and acts of terrorism. By equipping these vital teams and capabilities, we will improve the safety and security of our community through enhanced victim extrication, medical stabilization, and overall incident management, ultimately reducing loss of life and property.
The overarching goal of the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grant program is to enhance the preparedness of high-threat, high-density urban areas to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism.

Generally, UASI aims to:

• Prevent and Protect: Support investments that improve the ability of jurisdictions to prevent threatened or actual acts of terrorism, and to protect their citizens, residents, visitors, and critical assets against the greatest threats and hazards.
• Address Unique Urban Needs: Provide financial assistance to address the unique multi-discipline planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise needs of high-threat, high-density urban areas due to their population density and critical infrastructure.
• Build and Sustain Core Capabilities: Help these areas build and sustain the 32 "core capabilities" identified in the National Preparedness Goal across the five mission areas of Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery.
• Promote Regional Collaboration: Foster cooperation and coordination among various jurisdictions and disciplines within a designated urban area to enhance overall security and preparedness.

In essence, UASI is designed to make the most vulnerable and populated areas of the United States more resilient against terrorist attacks and related catastrophic events by providing resources for a comprehensive approach to homeland security.

The Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grant program provides significant community benefits, even though its primary focus is on enhancing capabilities to address acts of terrorism. These benefits extend to residents and the broader community in several ways:

Enhanced Emergency Preparedness and Response:

• Improved First Responder Capabilities: UASI funding directly equips and trains law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency medical services (EMS) with the specialized tools and knowledge needed to respond effectively to complex incidents, whether they are terrorist attacks or other large-scale emergencies.This includes everything from specialized protective gear and rescue equipment to advanced communication systems.
• Better Coordination and Collaboration: The program emphasizes regional collaboration, forcing various jurisdictions and disciplines (police, fire, public health, emergency management) to work together on planning, training, and exercises. This creates a more unified and effective response system, meaning faster and more coordinated aid for residents during any major crisis.
• Robust Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs): Funds are often used to upgrade and enhance EOCs, which serve as the command and control hubs during emergencies. A more efficient EOC translates to better decision-making and resource allocation, directly benefiting the affected community.

Increased Public Safety and Security:

• Protection of Critical Infrastructure: UASI funds often support measures to secure critical infrastructure like utilities, transportation hubs, and public gathering places. This directly protects the services and locations that communities rely on daily and reduces their vulnerability to attack.
• Enhanced Information and Intelligence Sharing: The program improves the ability of local agencies to collect, analyze, and share intelligence related to potential threats. This proactive approach helps prevent incidents before they occur, making the community safer.
• Cybersecurity Enhancements: With an increasing focus on cybersecurity as a national priority, UASI funds help protect local government systems and critical infrastructure from cyberattacks, which can have cascading effects on community services.

Community Resilience and Awareness:

• Community Preparedness Initiatives: UASI supports programs that aim to make the community more resilient, such as Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) training, which empowers citizens to assist during disasters. It can also fund public awareness campaigns on emergency preparedness.
• Mitigation of Impacts: While focused on terrorism, many of the capabilities built through UASI (e.g., enhanced hazardous materials response, mass casualty incident management) have "dual-use" benefits, improving the community's ability to mitigate the impacts of other natural disasters or technological accidents.
• Improved Public Health Preparedness: UASI funds can support public health initiatives related to bioterrorism preparedness, mass prophylaxis, and surge capacity in hospitals, which ultimately benefits the health and well-being of the entire community during health crises.

Economic Stability and Confidence:

• Reduced Risk Profile: A well-prepared urban area is a less attractive target for terrorism, which can help maintain economic stability and business confidence within the community.
• Faster Recovery: Enhanced preparedness means a quicker and more organized recovery after an incident, minimizing long-term economic disruption and helping the community return to normalcy faster.

While the core mission of UASI is terrorism preparedness, the investments made significantly bolster an urban area's overall emergency management capabilities, creating a safer, more resilient, and better-prepared environment for all residents.

City staff recommends the City Manager be authorized to submit for and accept if awarded the the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grant; in this, we will designate the City Manager as the Authorized Official with a not to exceed amount of $144,000.00. 

 

The total financial impact of this grant is for a not to exceed amount of $144,000 and this is a 100% Reimbursement Grant. 

 

City staff recommends the City Manager be authorized to submit for and accept if awarded this UASI Grant.