About $6.5M in emergency preparedness grants awarded in Va.

(AP) Virginia officials say about $6.5 million in federal funds will be divided among 100 emergency preparedness and security projects across the state.

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management announced the grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday. The money goes for a variety of initiatives, including equipment replacement, training, planning and emergency exercise programs.

Virginia’s emergency management department received 155 grant requests for about $17 million.