Homeland Security Funds to Boost Communication in Nebraska

Officials in Nebraska say the state will allocate its federal homeland security grants to continue its effort to improve emergency communications among state and local agencies.

In an article in Nebraska’s Star-Herald, staff reporter Maunette Loeks says the state government will hand out approximately $21.3 million in funds. “The state has been focusing on improving interoperability, or the ability of emergency responders, law enforcement and fire departments to respond with each another,” Loeks says.

Loeks says the state itself will receive nearly $3 million for state programs and officials have earmarked $8 million for the Omaha metropolitan area. A portion of the state’s funding will be used to expand state agency connections to the Nebraska statewide dispatch system.

The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency told Loeks 50 of the state’s counties have more than 75 percent of their communications systems updated so they can communicate with each other. Only nine counties are less than 50 percent complete.