WASHINGTON, DC -- September 10 -- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the expansion of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office’s (DNDO) Securing the Cities program to the National Capital Region, building upon the Department’s ongoing efforts to raise the nation’s capabilities to detect and protect against radiological and nuclear threats.
The Securing the Cities program seeks to lessen the threat posed by dangerous radiological or nuclear materials against major metropolitan areas in the United States by establishing sustainable capability among state, local, and tribal agencies to detect and report dangerous radiological and nuclear materials within their jurisdictions.
“Expanding the Securing the Cities program to the National Capital Region, New York City and Los Angeles and Long Beach, is another step in our efforts to raise the nation’s capabilities to protect against catastrophic threats,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, in a statement. “This program is a key part of the Department’s efforts to enhance the capability of all our partners to detect and interdict dangerous radiological and nuclear weapons or materials in major metropolitan areas.”
This is the third implementation of the Securing the Cities program. The program began in 2006 as a pilot project for the New York City region and expanded to the Los Angeles/Long Beach region in 2012. The Department plans to expand to additional cities in the coming years.
As part of the Securing the Cities program, the District of Columbia’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency will receive a direct grant of up to $30 million over five years beginning with $6 million in 2014. The funding will allow the District to work with partners in the National Capital Region to build a robust, regional nuclear detection capability for law enforcement and first responder organizations. Initial efforts will focus on analyzing the region’s current capabilities and planning for post-program sustainment activities.
DNDO will also provide equipment and assist regional partners in conducting training and exercises to further their nuclear detection capabilities and coordinate with federal operations. At the conclusion of the program, DNDO will continue to support the region through activities such as alarm adjudication and by providing subject matter expertise in the areas of training, exercises, and technical support.
