By Carl Weiser
Enquirer Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - Ordinarily, a $12.8 million federal grant for Cincinnati might seem like good news.

But a homeland security grant announced Thursday by the federal government raises an uncomfortable question: What does Cincinnati have that makes it seem in more need of homeland security dollars than Cleveland and Columbus? Or Atlanta, San Diego or Phoenix, for that matter?

The department allocates its money using a formula that ranks cities based on:

•  Population density.

•  Potential targets such as bridges, power plants and dams.

•  Threat intelligence.

When those were punched into the formula, Cincinnati got $12.8 million, Cleveland $10.5 million and Columbus $8.7 million.

What prompted the government to allot Cincinnati - the smallest of the three cities - the most money?

"The formula is classified," said Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Rachel Sunbarger. The threat information and the list of potential targets in the area also are classified, she said.

"The department wants to make sure Cincinnati and its surrounding areas are properly equipped to handle any type of emergency," Sunbarger said.

Cincinnati-area members of Congress said they had no objection to the department's calculations being kept secret.

"Risk assessment and threat analysis are sensitive issues that should remain beyond the review of unfriendly eyes. What matters is that Cincinnati is getting the funds it needs to be prepared and that's what the announcement today is about," said Marcie Ridgway, spokeswoman for Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio.

"If they deem it classified, then it needs to be," said Meg Olberding, the city's spokeswoman.

It's not the population density. The Urban Area Security Initiative grants announced Thursday go to cities and their surrounding county. Hamilton County's population density of 2,075 people per square mile is far lower than Cleveland's Cuyahoga County (3,040) and just slightly larger than Columbus' Franklin County (1,980.)

That leaves critical infrastructure and possible threats. According to a Homeland Security document obtained by Gannett News Service, the threat estimate includes input from three sources: the FBI, the CIA and Homeland Security's "Red Team" - a group that pretends to be terrorists.

The definition of important targets is more vague: It includes anything whose destruction would cause major disruptions, plus sites of "cultural iconic value."

Joe Clabes, spokesman for Rep. Ken Lucas, the only Tristate member on the House Homeland Security Committee, said the targets might include the Brent Spence Bridge, major highways, and the airport, which is also a cargo hub for DHL.

"Last week's media reports of al-Qaida terrorist plots involving cargo planes reminds us that we must be constantly vigilant," Lucas said in a statement.

City officials, who consult with Hamilton County, don't know exactly how they'll spend the $12.8 million.

In fact, they still haven't spent the $8 million they were awarded back in May in the last round of urban homeland security grants. (Amount awarded in May to Cleveland: $5.9 million. To Columbus: $0.) They have been preparing reports on their homeland security strategy and where they would spend the money, which are required before the money can be released.

Olberding said the $8 million probably would be spent on better surveillance, decontamination equipment, and facilities for treating mass casualties.

The homeland security money can be used to build fences around possible targets, buy protective equipment for police and firefighters and for training, among other things, according to Pete Tesner, grants administrator for the Ohio Emergency Management Agency.

E-mail cweiser@gns.gannett.com. Contributing were Ledyard King of Gannett News Service and Greg Korte of the Enquirer.