§608 Prioritization

Summary

When dividing grant money among States and high-risk urban areas that apply, the Administrator must look at each place’s level of threat, how vulnerable it is, and the possible consequences of a terrorist act. Things to consider include population (including military, tourists, and commuters), population density, any history of threats or past attacks, the risk to critical infrastructure and key resources (including nearby areas), the latest threat reports the Department has, if it is near an international border, if it has a coastline on an ocean (including the Gulf of Mexico) or international waters, the need to respond to nearby incidents, any unmet target capabilities, whether including nearby cities, counties, parishes, Indian tribes, and other local or tribal governments would help regional response, and any other written factors the Administrator sets. The Administrator must also judge how well the proposed grant will improve the area’s ability to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to terrorism, meet target capabilities, and lower overall risk. When assessing threat types, the Administrator must consider Biological, Chemical, Cyber, Explosives, Incendiary, Nuclear, Radiological, Suicide bombers, and any other types the Administrator finds relevant.