Bay Area UASI reallocates 2018 funds; San Francisco to pick regional administrator Nov. 8

Craig Diesick, representing Bay Area UASI, briefed the Disaster Council on the program’s footprint, governance and the process triggered after Alameda County withdrew as administrator in March 2019. San Francisco is serving as fiscal agent and issued an RFP to find a new regional training and exercise program administrator.

Janelle Meyer, Regional Program Manager, detailed the one‑time 2018 reallocation of more than $3,000,000 across the Bay Area. The reallocation split funding into four hubs at $812,000 each; San Francisco and San Mateo are in the West Bay hub and each jurisdiction’s allocation was recorded as $406,000. Local uses included $116,000 for DEM community preparedness training, a sheriff canine security/transportation trailer request and roughly $135,000 for fire NERC training and NERT support. Meyer emphasized the grant requirement for a nexus to terrorism and the approval authority’s role in reviewing and approving grant applications and expenditures.

The approval authority is scheduled to select the regional program administrator at its Nov. 8 meeting. Meyer said the program will integrate community preparedness and maintain public safety training volumes across disciplines including law enforcement, fire, HAZMAT, USAR, EMS and public health.

What happens next: the approval authority will convene Nov. 8 to select an administrator and DEM will proceed with integrating community preparedness components into the training program once an administrator is appointed.