The cities of Naperville and Aurora were recently awarded a nearly $1.4 million grant to prepare for possible terror attacks.
The grant was awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and is the largest in the state.
The cities will use the funds for training on how to respond in the case of a complex coordinated terrorist attack such as those that occurred in Paris and Boston.
They will be conducting exercises, including full-scale simulated attacks, to hone their skills.
Emergency managers from both cities said the grant will not only prepare for terrorist attacks, but also will improve response to other events.
“I think it’s going to definitely strengthen our partnership with our communities and our other agencies,” said Naperville Emergency Management Director Dan Nelson. “We’re looking to prepare the whole community, so it’s all of police and fire working with our hospitals, our school districts, our private companies, so that everybody’s more prepared for both a complex coordinated terrorist attack or any other emergency or disaster.”
“That will also help us in normal disaster-type incidents and also incidents like what occurred in Las Vegas,” said Joseph Jones, emergency management director for Aurora. “Whether it be domestic or international terrorist attack, that’s a single incident, but the same principles would be applied in the response.”
The grant will be disbursed over a three-year period.
Naperville News 17’s Beth Bria reports.
