(Columbia) June 12, 2003 - State Law Enforcement Division Chief Robert Stewart says South Carolina has received about $43 million in federal money for state homeland security efforts.

Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster says, "The money will provide the first line of defense for local law enforcement, EMS, firefighters improved command and control capabilities on the local level; better detection equipment and better protection of the officers and first responders."

The State Law Enforcement Division is South Carolina's lead counter-terrorism agency, and Stewart is Governor Mark Sanford's representative to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and head of the State Counter-Terrorism Coordinating Council.

He says nearly $30 million will go for equipment and training for emergency workers. The Port of Charleston will receive $5 million for security and an additional $5 million for equipment that can detect radiation.

Each of the state's 46 counties will receive a share of $5 million for local efforts. Each county gets $50,000, plus additional money based on population.

Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster says his county will spend its $75,000 share on gas masks and protective suits for emergency workers.

Part of the money will be used to make sure law enforcement and emergency agencies have radio systems that can communicate with each other. Radio incompatibility has been a long-standing problem that could prove disastrous in a crisis.

By Jack Kuenzie
Updated 6:44pm by Chris Rees with AP