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Division of Homeland Security

Homeland Security Program Section

The Homeland Security Section enhances security by managing and administering grant programs that increase the capability and capacity of local, tribal and state government, first responders and the citizens of North Dakota to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from incidents of terrorism by providing funding for training, exercising, equipment acquisition, and planning assistance. To date, more than 4,000 grants have been awarded to local and state entities.

Both the State Homeland Security and the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Grant Programs employ a base funding formula with the opportunity to receive additional dollars through a national competitive application process. Both grants stipulate 80 percent of the money is passed through to local response disciplines for equipment acquisition, planning, training and exercising activities. However, as the name implies, the latter is distributed strictly to law enforcement entities.

The Citizen Corps Grant Program supports the state’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program training that prepares individuals to help themselves, family members and others who are not in life threatening situations during a disaster. CERT members receive 16-20 hours of training in fire safety, sheltering in place, basic first aid and search and rescue. The program is designed to lessen the burden of first responders who must concentrate efforts helping those with critical or severe injuries.

Additional federal grants include the Emergency Management Performance (EMPG), Buffer Zone Protection Program (BZPP) and Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant Programs (HMEP). EMPG provides dollars to fund North Dakota’s emergency management structure at the state and local level. BZPP allocates a set amount for target hardening and prevention measures related to key infrastructure specifically selected by the federal government. HMEP funds planning and training for state and local jurisdictions to improve hazardous materials response and enhance implementation of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA).

The Homeland Security Section also manages and administers the Training and Exercise Program. Staff members develop and implement the N.D. Emergency Management Exercise Program, coordinate course development, revision management support and delivery of National Incident Management System (NIMS) training courses for state and local government representatives and coordinate the Homeland Security Consortium School Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) course for North Dakota first responders.