Since 2004, the Federal Emergency Management agency and the Minnesota Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management has designated Hennepin County as part of a major urban area eligible for receipt of Urban Area Security Initiative  (UASI) grant funding. This grant is for the purpose of increasing readiness levels and response capabilities of the emergency management community to deal with major disasters and incidents.

During the last grant period, UASI funding was used to improve terrorism security and response capabilities through the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention (LETP) program which designated 25% of UASI funds directly for law enforcement use as determined by law enforcement leaders.  Other uses of the UASI grant included the acquisition and management of emergency response cache equipment and supplies that are quickly available if needed. Personnel time and resources were also devoted to improving disaster communications capabilities, improving emergency operation centers, and expensing public alert and warning systems. UASI funds were also important in increasing our network of remote environmental sensors that enable emergency decision-makers to model, forecast and detect many types of natural, industrial and terrorist threats and hazards earlier and more accurately. 

Hennepin County Emergency Management will employ the 2018 UASI in similar proportions as last year and for continuing projects that were in progress during the 2017 UASI grant.