About the Bay Area UASI
Our Mission
The Bay Area Urban Areas Security Initiative (BAUASI) improves regional capacity to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist incidents and catastrophic events. We utilize federal homeland security grant funds to analyze regional risks, identify capability gaps, and build a secure, prepared and resilient region. The Bay Area UASI works in close collaboration with diverse stakeholders at the local, state, and federal levels.
History
The Department of Homeland Security first established high risk urban areas and determined federal funding allocations in 2003 in compliance with the Homeland Security Act of 2002. Between 2003 and 2005, the individual urban areas of Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose were selected to receive separate funding. However, in 2006, these major cities were consolidated into the Bay Area Urban Area. By 2011, the Bay Area Urban Areas Security Initiative further expanded to include its current twelve county membership.
Community
The Bay Area UASI is inclusive of over 100 incorporated cities and a combined total population exceeding 8.2 million people. As of 2015, the region’s economy totaled more than $785.5 billion, ranking it 19th among all countries in the world. In addition to residents, the Bay Area attracts over 16 million visitors annually who spend more than $16.6 million per day. One of the most culturally and geographically diverse areas in the nation, it is home to critical infrastructure, a concentration of banking, Fortune 500 and technology companies, light and heavy industry, and iconic sites and destinations. Because of these and other factors, the Department of Homeland Security ranks the Bay Area the fifth highest urban area in terms of risk and threat, behind New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Chicago.
Member Jurisdictions
Member jurisdictions of the Bay Area UASI include the major cities of Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose.
Additionally, the Bay Area UASI encompasses the following Counties:
- Alameda
- Contra Costa
- Marin
- Monterey
- Napa
- San Benito
- San Francisco
- San Mateo
- Santa Clara
- Santa Cruz
- Solano
- Sonoma
Click HERE to view annual reports and newsletters.
Bay Area UASI Management Team
Led by the General Manager, the Bay Area UASI Management Team collectively oversees risk management, strategic planning, project oversight and compliance, and the fiscal and administrative responsibilities required to implement and advance regional grant programs on behalf of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Approval Authority
The Bay Area UASI Approval Authority is the governing board that oversees the work of the Bay Area UASI Management Team. Voting members include 10 of the 14 represented jurisdictions within the San Francisco Bay Area urban risk area.