The State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) is a vital funding stream managed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and administered in Texas by the Office of the Governor (OOG), Public Safety Office. 

For the City of Schertz, this grant is particularly relevant as it supports the "Response" mission area - specifically under Mass Search and Rescue Operations, Emergency Support Function (ESF) 9 to address regional gaps in water rescue capabilities. 

The goal of this project is to enhance the City of Schertz's emergency response infrastructure by establishing a highly specialized regional swiftwater / flood search and rescue team. Utilizing State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSP) funds, we will equipment and train our first responders to mitigate life-safety risks during flash flooding and water-borne emergencies, ensuring that Schertz remains a resilient anchor for public safety in the Northeast San Antonio corridor. 

This project is about readiness without the price tag. By securing State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) funding, we are giving our Firefighters the specialized tools and training they need to pull people out of rising water safely. We are turning a regional vulnerability into a Schertz strength, ensuring that when the next big storm hits, we aren't just waiting for help - we are the help. 

Filling a Critical Safety Gap

• Schertz is unique because it spans three counties (Bexar, Comal, and Guadalupe) and is bisected by Cibolo Creek which is an area prone to rapid flooding. 
• To move from a reactive posture (waiting for mutual aid or state assets) to a proactive posture, where Schertz personnel can begin life-saving operations within minutes of an incident. 

Fiscal Responsibility

• Budget increases are a sensitive subject. 
• To leverage federal and state pass-through dollars to acquire high-cost equipment that would otherwise take years to fund through the general fund. This project aims to modernize our fleet at minimal cost to the Schertz taxpayer. 

Regional Influence & Mutual Aid

• Schertz is a leader in the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG).
• By becoming a typed FEMA resource and a participant in the Texas Emergency Management Assistance Teams (TEMAT) system, Schertz doesn't just protect its own borders; we become a vital partner to our neighbors. This strengthens our mutual aid agreements, ensuring that when we need help, our neighbors are equally ready to respond to us. 

Consider and act upon a resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for, accept, and execute a sub-recipient agreement for the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) grant through the Office of the Governor (OOG), in an amount not to exceed $148,206.51, for the purpose of enhancing regional water rescue capabilities. 

If this application is unsuccessful, an immediate application to the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) is recommended which falls under the same funding conditions as SHSP. 

100% Reimbursable Grant Program

The most important point is that the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) is a no-match grant.

• We are acquiring $148,206.51 worth of rescue assets for $0 in local capital outlay. 
• This preserves the City's general fund for other infrastructure needs while still upgrading public safety. 

Schertz will be required to pay the vendors upfront and then submit documentation to the Texas Office of the Governor (OOG) for reimbursement. 

Authorize the City Manager to apply for, accept, and execute a sub-recipient agreement for the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) grant through the Office of the Governor (OOG), in an amount not to exceed $148,206.51.

If unsuccessful, apply for the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grant program for the same conditions listed within this resolution.