March 9, 2011 - Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle praised Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson’s vote today to maintain funding for the country’s high risk urban areas involved in preventing and responding to natural disasters and acts of terrorism.
The Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) program focuses on enhancing preparedness in major metropolitan areas and directs funding to urban areas deemed to be at the highest risk for terrorist attacks. The Omaha metropolitan area has been included several times in recent years due to some of the strategic assets located in the area. However, H.R. 1 would arbitrarily limit eligibility to 25 urban areas total. This would threaten the ability of Omaha to access these funds necessary to prevent and prepare for an act of terrorism in our own backyard.
"The Omaha metropolitan area has just as much need to protect its citizens from disasters and terrorist threats as any other large city in the U.S.," said Mayor Suttle. "As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Nelson understands that having STRATCOM Headquarters, along with Union Pacific and numerous communication and technology centers puts the metropolitan area in need of protection."
The Tri-County Omaha UASI Region, which serves Douglas, Sarpy, and Washington Counties, provides regional preparedness/response coverage to approximately 865,350 people. The Tri-County Omaha UASI Region has received over $14 million in funds from program years 2005, 2006, and 2010 to help local first responders prepare for disasters and terrorist threats. With UASI funding the Tri-County Omaha UASI Region area has been able to develop integrated regional communications systems, purchase updated equipment for first responders, and has had the ability to exercise and train first responders on scenario based planning.
