LOS ANGELES HARBOR COMMISSION APPROVES
$1.8 MILLION IN FEMA GRANTS

Funds to Go Toward Port Security System and Operation Improvements

SAN PEDRO, Calif. – Nov. 10, 2015 – The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners has approved three grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) totaling $1.8 million. The grants will support Port Police security and operation integration initiatives, as well as cyber security infrastructure.

“Protecting the Port and the surrounding Los Angeles Harbor area communities is a top priority,” said Port Executive Director Gene Seroka. “These grants will allow us to continue extremely important programs and technology upgrades necessary to keep our security operations state-of-the-art.”

As a condition of the FEMA Port Security Grant Program (PSGP)—a competitive grant program supporting security enhancements at ports nationwide—the Port will contribute 25% in additional non-federal funds, or $625,000. The match brings total funding for the three Port security initiatives to $2.5 million.

The security projects to be undertaken include integration, maintenance and repair of Port security systems; integration of external security video feeds from various government departments, terminals and mobile sources; improvements to the Port’s mass notification system; and infrastructure upgrades that address a variety of cyber risks associated with port complex security.

The Port of Los Angeles is America’s premier port and has a strong commitment to developing innovative strategic and sustainable operations that benefit Southern California’s economy and quality of life. As North America’s leading seaport in terms by container volume and cargo value, the Port of Los Angeles facilitated $290 billion in trade during 2014. Port operations and commerce facilitate more than 148,000 jobs (about one in 12) in the City of Los Angeles and 531,000 jobs (or one in 16) in the five-county Southern California region. The San Pedro Bay Ports support more than 1 million California jobs and 3.1 million nationwide.