The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) Office of Emergency Management (OEM) today brought together more than 20 State agencies and other partners in Albany to shape the future of emergency training and exercises in New York State.

“At its highest level, the purpose of today’s training and exercise workshop is to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers,” said DHSES Commissioner John P. Melville.  “Experts from several agencies and organizations are working to make sure that all emergency managers, first responders, and other State and local agencies involved in planning for emergencies and disasters are on the same page when it comes to how we train and plan for emergencies across the State.”

“The Training and Exercises Planning Workshop serves as an important venue for agencies to work together to coordinate the State’s training and exercise strategy with key State and federal programs and priorities over a three-year period,” said Kevin Wisely, OEM Director.

One of the goals of the Training and Exercises Planning Workshop is to discuss how training and exercise activities match up with priorities identified in the State’s Homeland Security Strategy, which assists in guiding and organizing New York State’s homeland security-related efforts over a multi-year period.  It provides a focal point for State programs and policies, as well as providing guidance for homeland security grant funding.

Other goals at the workshop today will focus on developing and updating the State’s multi-year training and exercises plan, coordinating various agencies’ schedules, and improving coordination between training programs and exercises.  Attendees will receive presentations on the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP), the State’s County Emergency Preparedness Assessment (CEPA) initiative, and the State’s Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) program.  Workshops will also be conducted to foster partnership between agencies and to discuss priorities for future training and exercise opportunities.

 

Workshop Attendees:

 

• Department of Agriculture and Markets
• Office of Children and Family Services
• Office of Counter Terrorism
• Department of Economic Development
• Department of Education
• Office of Emergency Management
• Energy Research and Development Authority
• Department of Environmental Conservation
• Department of Financial Services
• Department of Health
• Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services
• Homes and Community Renewal
• Office of Information Technology
• Office of Interoperable and Emergency Communications
• Department of Labor
• Office of Mental Health
• Division of Military and Naval Affairs
• Office for Persons with Developmental Disabilities
• Department of Public Service
• Department of State
• Division of State Police
• Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
• Thruway Authority
• Department of Transportation
• New York City Office of Emergency Management
• American Red Cross

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and its four offices -- Counter Terrorism, Emergency Management, Fire Prevention and Control, and Interoperable and Emergency Communications --  provide leadership, coordination and support for efforts to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorism and other man-made and natural disasters, threats, fires and other emergencies.  For more information, visit the DHSES Facebook page, follow @NYSDHSES on Twitter, or visit dhses.ny.gov.