Nevada eligible for nearly $18 million in Homeland Security money

Nevada is eligible for $17.9 million from the federal Department of Homeland Security.

The announcement was made by Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge.

"We do not underestimate the role that state and local governments play in protecting American citizens against the threat of terrorism," said Ridge in the grant announcement.

Nevada Homeland Security Adviser Jerry Bussell said he and Nevada's emergency management director Frank Siracusa still review the details of the grants to determine what the state must do to get the money and how it can be used.

According to the federal announcement, the money can be used to help state and local public safety and law enforcement personnel pay for planning, training, equipment and other costs associated with improving security measures.

State officials have until May 30 to submit their applications for the money.

The grant is part of a $1.5 billion nationwide package being made available to states and U.S. territories through the Office of Domestic Preparedness.

The money is divided into two pots. The bulk of the funding, $15.5 million is for First Responder Preparedness programs and 80 percent of that goes to local governments.

Of the remaining $2.3 million, half goes to local governments and the rest to the state.

Bussell said it's appropriate that most of the money go to local entities "because all terrorism acts really take place at the local level." He said money the state has can be used, among other things, to buy equipment that might be too costly for each local government to purchase, or to improve statewide communications and other systems needed in an emergency.