What the heck is a UASI?

Now I know why everyone looked at me like I was crazy when I would say I was going to try to blog daily.  Work and life quickly got in the way of my best intentions to produce daily content, but tonight I thought I would throw up a quick post that relates to why I have been so busy at work lately. 

The Shawnee Police Department and I have been involved in regional homeland security projects since right after the tragedy on September 11, 2001.  The Federal government provides grant funds to develop regional capabilities to protect, prevent, respond, and recover from terrorism and other hazardous incidents.  When the Federal government is involved, acronyms for agency and program titles are common place.  Here are a few examples to illustrate my point: FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), DHS (Department of Homeland Security), and because April 18 (this year's tax filing deadline) is quickly approaching, your favorite and mine...the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). 

Tonight I would like to introduce you to the acronym of a federal program I have been working on lately.  That acronym is UASI (Urban Area Security Initiative).  The Kansas City area has been involved with the UASI program since 2003.  MARC (Mid America Regional Council) administers the program for the Kansas City area.  I serve as the co-chair for the Law Enforcement Subcommittee to MARC’s Regional Homeland Security Coordinating Council.  The council and subcommittees have kept me busy the last two weeks with planning for the 2011 grant program cycle and wrapping up past funding cycles.

For more information on the Kansas City area emergency management and homeland security programs, follow this link to MARC’s Emergency Services webpage.

http://www.marc.org/emergency/rhscc.htm