Burbank receives grant to aid terror response
Of the roughly $58 million allotted to the Los Angeles area to help public safety agencies respond to terrorist threats, nearly $341,000 is coming to Burbank.
The money comes by way of the Urban Area Security Initiative, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security program designed to help police and firefighters in the region “prevent, respond to and recover from” threats or acts of terrorist threats, according to city documents.
So far, Burbank has received $2 million in the past six years through the program, helping to pay for equipment, planning and training and other needs, officials said.
“Our budget doesn’t support all the training or equipment we need to have to support FEMA and Homeland Security-type responses,” Burbank Police Lt. John Dilibert said. “That’s the biggest issue for the police department. There are great guidelines … but to fund it and to fulfill the goals and objectives that the government is asking, you cannot financially support it without grant funding.”
Police will receive close to $251,000, some of which will go toward strengthening protection of the Downtown Metrolink Station and the regional transportation center planned for Bob Hope Airport.
Dilibert said two to three license plate readers could also be purchased with part of those funds.
The Fire Department was selected to receive funds for training and equipment needed to improve its role as a local and regional first responder.
The Los Angeles Area Fire Chiefs Assn. wanted to improve the ability of fire departments to work together on large incidents, according to city documents.
The grant includes urban search and rescue training and equipment, as well as chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives equipment.
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