TEMPLE, TX — Governor Greg Abbott has announced $61.2 million in Homeland Security Grant Program funding will support state and local efforts to prevent terrorism.
The funding is designed to strengthen the Lone Star State's ability to prevent, respond to and recover from terrorism and other catastrophic events.
Just over $65,000 worth of the funding will go to the City of Temple. Laurie Simmons, Public Relations Manager for the City of Temple, shared the funds will be used to purchase hazardous material identification monitors.
"So basically what these monitors will do is whenever firefighters, first responders get to a scene, and there's an unidentifiable chemical smell in the air, that they will be able to take a sample right there on the scene, put it into these monitors, and at the very least, the monitor will be able to tell us what family of chemicals it's in, if not the actual specific chemical," explained Simmons.
The grants cater to core capabilities outlined in the National Preparedness Goal.
In a statement, Governor Abbott said in part, "These grants will ensure our communities have the resources they need to counter terrorism statewide and enhance security for all Texans."
