Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King of Maine announced Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has awarded more than $9 million in local preparedness grants to the city of Portland, five counties and a number of state programs.

“This funding will help ensure that our communities are prepared for and protected against potential terrorist acts or catastrophic disasters,” Collins and King said in a joint statement.

The state will receive $3.7 million to implement state homeland security strategies and $970,000 was given to the city of Portland and other agencies to beef up port security against a potential terrorist attack. In addition, Aroostook, Franklin, Oxford, Somerset and Washington counties will divide more than $800,000 to secure Maine’s borders with Canada.