DHS Regional Advisor Dan Gilley visited Loudon County to apprise Loudon County Sheriff Tim Guider about the grant award. 

"The funds will be used to purchase equipment to better protect the dam, the towns and citizens near it and the commerce associated with water traffic through the dam," Gilley explained.  

The grant is part of a program called Risk Reduction Assessment Project (RRAP), one of four funded in the country, the TVA system within the State of Tennessee was chosen as one of the four sites.

Gilley said he couldn't name the other three sites and didn't go into too many details about the grant selection process.

"All I'm allowed to say is, these particular TVA sites within Tennessee were chosen as part of the project," he said adding "It's money that's designated to go to law enforcement agencies that would be the primary responders should there be a raised level of alert to a hydro electric dam - some credible threat."  

Gilley said he has confidence the sheriff's department will put the money to good use.

"We've worked with Loudon County in the past and we know they're a very capable and professional department. But like almost every department we work with they can always use more equipment - equipment that's designed specifically to help them partner with TVA police to better protect that site," Gilley said.  

All money from DHS will go to the Loudon County Sheriff's office and won't cost the county a dime.

"There's no local match, no local funds are involved," Gilley said.

There are some constraints on what equipment can be bought from the funds. The equipment bought has to be useful in the event of an emergency at the dam but also for everyday law enforcement.

"The equipment that is purchased, while it would be very useful in the rare event when we might have a raised level of alert, it's equipment that can also be used on a daily basis for whatever the sheriff's department thinks is best as far as how to put that equipment to good use to help protect the good citizens of Loudon County," Gilley said. "We don't like to see things go on a shelf and collect dust."

He said the idea is to get the most bang for the buck and not to buy a lot of specialized equipment that isn't useful otherwise. 

The fear is what a disruption of the dam could mean for lives and commerce up and down stream. Gilley also noted a goal of terrorists is to "make cops look bad" and shake the public's confidence in the authorities' ability to protect them.

"To fight everyday crime and terrorism is a win-win," he said. 

Gilley said he feels the Loudon County Sheriff's Department can live up to the confidence the grant represents. 

"The department has shown a good track record in the past of cooperating with Homeland Security and showing a real interest in protecting the key resources of the county."

Gilley has a background as a former sheriff of Bradley County, which he said helps him understand just how helpful these funds will be to local law enforcement.

"I know how pleased I would have been to be the recipient of a grant like this," he said. 

Loudon County Sheriff Tim Guider said since the department had not applied for a grant receiving it was quite a surprise.

"It made my day," Guider said. He also appreciates the grant funds can be used to buy equipment that can not only protect the dam from terrorists but also to protect county citizens from criminals.

"It's something you could use for emergency situation or an everyday thing," he said. He said he isn't sure yet what equipment the department will purchase with the funds because he doesn't have an approved equipment list. 

Guider said while there's been no threats to the dam so far, it pays to remain vigilant. "Terrorists want to terrorize people," Guider said explaining hitting a target in a rural area might be an unexpected move and would make "everyone feel vulnerable."

He said he also thinks about the local consequences if the dam should be attacked. Guider said the best thing is for everyone to remain on alert for the unusual. 

"The goal is to prevent, not respond," he explained. The equipment purchased is just in case prevention is ineffective. 

The grant is particularly welcome this year with every department in the county having their budgets cut to the bone.

" I sent in a budget that was about $250,000 less, So far we've stayed within our means," Guider explained adding, "This will fill some gaps."