Description 

The Jersey City/Newark Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), which is comprised of the two “Core” cities of Jersey City and Newark and the seven counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic and Union is one of the six Tier 1 urban regions considered at greater risk of terrorist attacks.

The UASI program focuses on enhancing the regional preparedness in major metropolitan areas.  The UASI program directly supports the National Priority on expanding regional collaboration in the National Preparedness Guidelines and is intended to assist participating jurisdictions in developing integrated regional systems for prevention, protection, response and recovery.  Consistent with the 9/11 Act, states are required to ensure that at least 25 percent of UASI appropriated funds are dedicated towards law enforcement terrorism prevention-oriented planning, organization, training, exercise and equipment activities, including those activities which support the development and operation of fusion centers.

Homeland Security Funding

One of the goals of OEM is to aggressively pursue any and all Federal Homeland Security dollars to enhance response capabilities of our first responders in an effort to provide the best security available for Jersey City residents.  Since 2006, Jersey City has received over 9.2 million dollars of homeland security dollars.


These funds provided for:

•          Construction of a State of the art Emergency Operations Center
•          Eight explosive detecting/patrol K-9s
•          Mobile Field Communications Command Vehicle
•          High Rise/Tunnel Rescue Unit
•          State of the Art River Operations Vessel
•          Equipment for new Citywide Emergency Communications Center 
•          Security enhancements for the city water system
•          Emergency Public Warning system
•          Mandated NIMS training for city employees
•          Four electric patrol vehicles
•          Installation and inclusion of video surveillance cameras on the downtown waterfront
           into the citywide CCTV system 
•          Enhanced Information sharing to include real-time video feed capabilities of
           city CCTV cameras into police and fire vehicles
•          Enhanced communication capabilities to include a back-up fire scene analog
           radio system installation of the five “Mutual Link Systems” (JC School system,
           St. Peter College, NJCU, Newport Mall, City-Wide Communications center providing
           instantaneous interoperability between first responders and the private sector
           during emergency situations
•          Enhanced CBRNE Detection/Response to include a Mass Decontamination
           truck, and detection equipment
•          Mass Response Shelter Unit
•          Mobile Explosive Ordinance and Disposal vehicle

It is important to recognize that ALL of these initiatives were funded at no expense to the taxpayers of Jersey City.



Press Releases -
2010 02 09 - OEM Announces Snow Emergency Instructions for Residents, Businesses
2010 02 09 - Mayor Unveils $20M, 'Green' Public Safety Communications Center
2009 09 29 - New Police River Vessel Named After Officer DiNardo