U. S. Department of Homeland Security 

 

 Office for Domestic Preparedness

 

 Washington, D.C. 20531 

ODP Information Bulletin 

No. 110 - May 6, 2004 

TO: All State Administrative Agency Heads 

 All State Administrative Agency Points of Contact 

All State Homeland Security Directors 

FROM: C. Suzanne Mencer 

 Director

SUBJECT: ODP Grant Funding Available to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) 

Since 1997, the Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP) has provided grant funds to enhance 

the preparedness of state, urban area and local public safety agencies to prevent, respond to and 

assist in the recovery from terrorist incidents in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, the 

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. territories. One of the public safety disciplines 

eligible for funding through this program has been emergency medical services (EMS). As part 

of the Fiscal Year 2004 Homeland Security Appropriations Act (P.L. 108-90), ODP was directed 

to prepare a report accounting for ODP grant funds provided by states to the EMS discipline, and 

identifying barriers faced by EMS providers in obtaining more of this funding. 

To fulfill this requirement, ODP examined allocations for both the Homeland Security Grant 

Program and the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (formerly administered by the Federal 

Emergency Management Agency). Of the $3.38 billion in funding available in fiscal years 2002 

and 2003 through these programs, ODP found that EMS providers received less than 4% of these 

funds. As part of this report, ODP also worked with the National Association of State EMS 

Directors (NASEMSD) and the American Ambulance Association (AAA) to survey member 

organizations and identify possible barriers to the receipt of these funds. These surveys 

highlighted the need for a greater awareness of ODP programs and policies within the EMS 

community. ODP will be working with both NASEMSD and AAA over the coming months to 

implement a number of educational initiatives designed to address these issues. 

In addition, ODP would also like to remind states that representatives from the EMS discipline 

should be integrated into planning efforts and working groups associated with the development 

and implementation of state and/or urban area homeland security strategies. Further, any EMS 

agency that is part of the state and/or urban area homeland security strategy and response plan is 

eligible to receive ODP grant funding. 

There are four different categories of activities eligible for funding in the Homeland Security 

Grant Program (HSGP): planning, equipment acquisition, training, and exercises. Additionally, 

through the Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) Program, EMS units are eligible to receive 

funding if the unit falls organizationally under the auspices of the fire department. Although 

EMS activities are not an independent program area for the AFG in FY 2004, EMS activities 
have been incorporated into certain activities within the Operations and Firefighter Safety 

Program. There are five different activities available for funding under this program area: 

training, equipment, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness, and modifications to 

facilities. 

A terrorist attack has significant potential to produce large numbers of civilian casualties. The 

readiness of EMS is vital to ensuring prompt and appropriate emergency care and transportation 

as a component of the overall response. Therefore, it is essential that EMS agencies receive 

support and assistance from the states and be integrated into planning efforts and working groups 

to enhance the overall preparedness of state, urban area and local public safety personnel to 

prevent, respond to and assist in the recovery from terrorist incidents. 

If you have any questions about this or other policy-related issues, please contact your 

preparedness officer or the ODP Helpline at 1-800-368-6498.