The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) today announced that $761,369 in Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) grants have been awarded to the State to increase the effectiveness in safely incidents that involve hazardous materials. The grant will also enhance the implementation of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA), and will encourage a comprehensive approach to emergency planning by incorporating the unique challenges of responses to transportation situations. The grant is provided by the US Department of Transportation and is administered through DHSES.

"Hazardous or combustible materials, such as crude oil are shipped throughout our state on our highways, waterways and rail lines, said DHSES Commissioner John Melville. “It is vitally important that local governments not only have the most well trained first responders, but are working off the best emergency plans to prepare for and respond to challenges that these types of incidents could bring.”

New York State is awarding $205,685 to counties through a non-competitive process to develop, improve, and carry out emergency plans under the EPCRA, including ascertaining the flow patterns of hazardous materials in transportation and to train public sector employees to respond to accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials.

All counties and the City of New York were eligible to apply for up to $5,172.  Regional partnerships were encouraged.  The remainder of funding will be utilized by the DHSES Office of Fire Prevention and Control to provide hazardous materials training to first responders across the state.

This year, 21 counties and four regional partnerships were funded through this grant opportunity:

 About the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services

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 Facebook page, follow @NYSDHSES on Twitter, or visit dhses.ny.gov.