HOUSTON, 5:51 p.m. CDT April 9, 2003 - Houston will receive an $8.7 million grant from the Homeland Security Department to safeguard against terrorism, News2Houston reported Wednesday.
Houston is on a list of seven major cities in the United States considered vulnerable to a terrorist attack.
Federal officials would not say why Houston is considered a target. But they did say that Houston has not received a specific threat from a terrorist group.
City officials said that Houston could be a possible target because of its refineries, port, and medical center.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, police patrols have been increased at Houston's airports, public buildings and the city's water treatment facility.
"The objective is to prevent anything from happening to begin with. Second, to be sure, if something happens, we're prepared to address it and protect the people in our city," Houston Mayor Lee Brown said.
Brown said that the grant would be used for additional training and to purchase new safety equipment. He will also consult with the fire and police departments to see what more can be done.
"We've done what the Secretary of Homeland Security indicated to prepare ourselves probably better than any other city in America," Brown said.
The mayor said that Houston is spending $150,000 a week on additional security so the grant will help offset those costs.
Many Houstonians told News2Houston that they were not surprised that Houston is a top target.
"Well, you see a lot of unusual things happening. People are very vulnerable in this day and time," an unidentified Houstonian said.
"I think there's not too much we can do on something that much out of our control at this point. Just pray that it doesn't happen to us," another Houstonian said.
The other cities that will receive federal money from the Homeland Security Department include New York ($25 million), Washington ($18.2 million), Los Angeles ($12.5 million), Seattle ($11.3 million), Chicago( $11 million) and San Francisco ($8.7 million).
Houston Considered Top Terrorism Target
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I think I heard the other night where St. Louis got money too. Stay safe Houstonians!
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The posts in this forum are NOT official forecast and should not be used as such. They are just the opinion of the poster and may or may not be backed by sound meteorological data. They are NOT endorsed by any professional institution or storm2k.org. For official information, please refer to the NHC and NWS products.
Re: Houston Considered Top Terrorism Target
southerngale wrote:HOUSTON, 5:51 p.m. CDT April 9, 2003 - Houston will receive an $8.7 million grant from the Homeland Security Department to safeguard against terrorism, News2Houston reported Wednesday.
Houston is on a list of seven major cities in the United States considered vulnerable to a terrorist attack.
Federal officials would not say why Houston is considered a target. But they did say that Houston has not received a specific threat from a terrorist group.
City officials said that Houston could be a possible target because of its refineries, port, and medical center.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, police patrols have been increased at Houston's airports, public buildings and the city's water treatment facility.
"The objective is to prevent anything from happening to begin with. Second, to be sure, if something happens, we're prepared to address it and protect the people in our city," Houston Mayor Lee Brown said.
Brown said that the grant would be used for additional training and to purchase new safety equipment. He will also consult with the fire and police departments to see what more can be done.
"We've done what the Secretary of Homeland Security indicated to prepare ourselves probably better than any other city in America," Brown said.
The mayor said that Houston is spending $150,000 a week on additional security so the grant will help offset those costs.
Many Houstonians told News2Houston that they were not surprised that Houston is a top target.
"Well, you see a lot of unusual things happening. People are very vulnerable in this day and time," an unidentified Houstonian said.
"I think there's not too much we can do on something that much out of our control at this point. Just pray that it doesn't happen to us," another Houstonian said.
The other cities that will receive federal money from the Homeland Security Department include New York ($25 million), Washington ($18.2 million), Los Angeles ($12.5 million), Seattle ($11.3 million), Chicago( $11 million) and San Francisco ($8.7 million).
Yes Houston is a Target.So are Detroit,Denver,Dallas,Boston,San Diego,Miami,New Orleans.The list is endless.How they prioritize is beyond me.
The noteworthy issue I wish to take issue with is however twofold.
First,and it has been in the Media for quite sometime,at least in Phoenix and other cities...Why has this taken so long?The Grants have still not been officially funded and distributed,yet we are at War in the Middle East.
Where is the logic?
Secondly,and I made mention of this in another thread.The War has cost an estimated 80Billion Dollars,and rising.This does not include Afghanistan or our Ops in the SW Pacific.
Fine.War is not cheap,nor should it be.
Nor then,should OUR HOMELAND SECURITY be on the cheap!
These numbers are an utter insult to Civic Needs.I was shocked,and though possibly a zero had been dropped per typo.
No.I fear not.A paltry 8.7 Million to 'Safeguard'?A city the size of Houston..
can burn 8.7 Mill on Banquets,Limos and 30 days worth of utility bills..maybe.8.7 Mill..that's it.
LA hit the firggin jackpot of the Homeland Dept of 'Security'...on hold.
What?12.5Mill???LOL!!!They Can't be serious.
SF gets lowballed at 8.7mill.Behind Seattle at 11.3mill...hmmmm.These numbers cannot be a reflection of serious committment.Municipalities have been waiting so long,they are in debt for borrowing just a portion of what they have needed.State cauffers are in the Red.Yet...the highest amount for the Largest City in the US..our own NYC,THE 09-11 NYC has waited and gets a whopping 25mill!DC,the second target gets 18.2 Mill?
Chicago,our 3rd Largest City,again comes in behind SEA at 11mill.
And I suppose the check is in the mail?Still.
Buerocracy

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