Funding Provided in FY 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, both D-Mich., praised today’s congressional passage of $1.25 million in funding for two emergency operations centers in Southeast Michigan included in the 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Act conference report. The city of Detroit will receive $1 million and Macomb County will receive $250,000 for their respective emergency operations centers. The bill now goes to the president for his signature before becoming law.

“Adequately equipping emergency operations centers is essential to support their mission of saving lives and helping communities recover after disasters,” Levin said. “These are the nerve centers in response to disasters and I will continue working to ensure they have the tools they need to fulfill their vital service to our communities.”

“The safety of Michigan families is always a top priority. That’s why I am pleased this funding will provide state-of-the-art equipment and much-needed upgrades to emergency operations centers in Detroit and Macomb County,” said Stabenow. “Having a well-designed center will improve the coordination of local assistance in the event of an emergency and will help save lives.”

Detroit Emergency Operations Center : The city of Detroit does not currently have a fixed and permanent emergency operations center. The center is significant to Southeast Michigan to serve as a command and control center in the event of major catastrophes. A properly designed center is significant to provide a continuous common operating picture in support of the city’s strategy on homeland security and to expand survivability and continuity of operations. Funding will be spent on administrative and legal expenses; architectural and engineering design; project inspection fees; site work; demolition and removal; construction and equipment. Highlights of this project include: the effective use of approximately 12,000 square feet of an existing portion of the EOC, and also the capability to mitigate the potential of long-term effects of a catastrophic event due to terrorism or other unplanned events.

Macomb County Emergency Operations Center : The funding will be used to purchase and install communications and technology equipment for the county’s emergency operations center. The equipment will help provide the needed tools to provide efficient responses to emergency situations.

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