A $11.4 million federal grant will be used to set up a system to detect nuclear and radiological threats around the greater Los Angeles region, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced today.
The Department of Homeland Security's "Securing the Cities" grant will fund the purchase of nuclear and radiological detection equipment and set-up of an analysis lab and command center based out of the Los Angeles Emergency Center, Garcetti said.
The goal is to set up a nuclear detection ``ring'' or "halo" around the Los Angeles region to monitor potential threats and develop a response protocol.
"By creating a detection halo around our region, we'll get an early warning of threats which will accelerate response times and could help stop an attack before it begins," Garcetti said.
Agencies collaborating on the detection system include Garcetti's office; the Los Angeles Fire and Police departments, as well as the Airport and Harbor police; the Los Angeles County Sheriff's, Fire and Public Health departments; Long Beach police; Orange County Sheriff's Department; and California Highway Patrol.
The grant was awarded to the Los Angeles/Long Beach Urban Areas Security Initiative Approval Authority, which includes top officials from most of the agencies working on the effort.
"The Securing the Cities program will allow us to better support and unite efforts already underway, increasing cooperation and coordination across federal, state, and local agencies," said Dr. Huban Gowadia, director of the Homeland Security Department's Domestic Nuclear Detection Office.
U.S. & World
The Los Angeles area has the opportunity to obtain as much as $30 million in federal funding for detection efforts over the next half decade.
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