Charlotte to receive $3M from Homeland Security after Boston bombings

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Boston Marathon bombings are one reason the Department of Homeland Security is giving local law enforcement agencies more money to prepare for similar attacks.
 
The money helps pay for large training drills.
 
Ross Ashley is a former Homeland Security official.
 
"Every dollar spent in preparedness saves you that much 10 fold in the amount of money it takes to recover," Ashley said.
 
Channel 9 looked at Homeland Security documents and found the Charlotte area will again get $3 million this year.
 
Charlotte has received money every year since at least 2008.
 
It's one of 39 high-risk urban areas, determined by density and other factors officials won't discuss.
 
This is the most number of cities listed as high-threat areas since 2010.
 
That's partly in response to the Boston bombings, and also because of more funding from Congress.
 
Tulsa received federal grant money up until 2011.
 
The sheriff's office used the money to purchase a mobile radio tower allowing multiple agencies to communicate in an emergency.
 
Local agencies decide how to spend the money.

WSOC