San Diego gets homeland security grant

The city of San Diego was awarded $16.2 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for emergency preparedness and anti-terrorism efforts, it was announced Thursday.

The grants were among $832.5 million in Urban Areas Security Initiative, or UASI, grants announced by DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano to 64 metropolitan areas.

Last year, San Diego was also awarded $16.2 million in UASI grants. According to San Diego

Mayor Jerry Sanders’ office, the city will use the money to strengthen an emergency communications network and improve the region’s ability to respond to a chemical or biological attack.