Federal agency doles out nearly $400 million for emergency preparedness

The Health and Human Services Department will provide states and large metropolitan areas with $390.5 million to help hospitals improve their emergency preparedness and response. 

The grants are expected to help hospitals and other healthcare facilities be ready for emergencies such as disease outbreaks, natural disasters and acts of terrorism. 

Facilities in all 50 states and several U.S. territories are expected to use the funding to improve communications systems, processes for fatality management and systems that track available hospital beds. 

California will receive nearly $32 million and Los Angeles county will receive an additional $12 million. Texas is slated for about $28 million, and Florida $22 million. 

Under the program, New York state will receive $13.6 million and New York City is slated for more than $10 million. 

Illinois will get more than $12.3 million, and the city of Chicago is expected to receive about $3.9 million.