Santa Ana, Anaheim Awarded Millions in Federal Funds to Help Combat Terrorism

Santa Ana and Anaheim are among 10 California cities that will receive funds from the Homeland Security Department to help them boost security and respond to terrorist threats.

The cities are among 50 urban areas across the country that will receive $675 million in grants, the federal agency announced Thursday.

Santa Ana will receive $15,058,528, and Anaheim will receive $10,345,691.

“The fact that $25 million is coming to Orange County shows that the Department of Homeland Security recognizes how vital Orange County is to the overall economy of the state, considering we have 40-plus million visitors as a county every year and over 3 million in population,” said Anaheim spokesman John Nicoletti.

In a list released by the state attorney general’s office earlier this year, Disneyland ranked fifth among possible terrorist targets in the state.

It was listed behind Los Angeles International Airport, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the ports of Oakland and Long Beach.

The money was allocated based on such factors as the importance of the infrastructure, population density and credible threat information.

Cities are awaiting word from the federal government about how they can spend the money, but officials in Santa Ana said they expect to use it to protect infrastructure, including the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and Courthouse and other county buildings.

The city is also hoping to purchase equipment, including chemical suits, emergency vehicles, surveillance equipment and decontamination units.

“We are definitely going to take a regional approach with Anaheim, Garden Grove, Westminster and all the cities around us,” said Brett E. Franklin, Santa Ana’s mayor pro tem.

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Recipients

Ten California cities will receive federal grants next year from the Department of Homeland Security.

*--* City Amount Los Angeles $28,268,504 San Francisco $26,481,275 Santa Ana $15,058,528 Long Beach $12,136,091 San Diego $10,479,947 Anaheim $10,345,691 San Jose $9,982,442 Sacramento $8,024,926 Oakland $7,854,691 Fresno $7,076,396

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Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security