"All aboard the anti-terror gravy train! Since 2003, the Department of Homeland Security has awarded state and local governments more than $8 billion. A nice chunk of those grants landed right here—according to documents, Albemarle County appropriated Home-land Security grants totaling $4,284,476, including money for computers, gas masks, night vision goggles and SCUBA gear during the past three years.

Here are examples of local domestic preparedness grants. Interesting, isn’t it, that most of the money went for cool new gadgets for police, fire and rescue departments, while none seemed specifically earmarked to provide food, shelter and medicine to victims of a major catastrophe?—John Borgmeyer

$3,250,000
Part of a $14 million grant split between the City, County and UVA to establish “interoperable” regional mobile communication and data systems.

$301,339
The Department of Homeland Security awarded this grant to provide “a wellness and fitness program” for volunteer and career personnel that includes annual nutrition, back care and abdominal health education.

$280,754
This grant will be split evenly among fire, rescue and police for mobile data computers, video cameras and emergency response training in the event of an attack using weapons of mass destruction.

$224,335
Police, fire and rescue departments got this grant, one of several earmarked for night-vision tools, digital cameras and other “tactical equipment.”

$3,136
These funds reimbursed the costs of having off-duty police officers patrol the county’s reservoirs during the “heightened alertness” period, March 17-April 16, 2003." (C-Ville Weekly, December 27, 2005)