Regional Projects to Improve Emergency Planning Focused on Supply Chains, Emergency Purchasing, and Training and Exercises to Test Local Response Capabilities

The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services today announced New York was awarded $929,414 through FEMA’s Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program to support emergency preparedness and pandemic preparedness initiatives statewide.  New York State will utilize the federal funding in various regions across the state to strengthen planning efforts and work to improve the stabilization and restoration services and systems rapidly after an emergency happens. New York State was one of only three states which received funding through this nationally competitive grant program.

“Whether it’s a natural disaster, a pandemic or terrorism, New York faces a wide array of potential threats and it’s critical we ensure emergency responders have the proper plans and resources in place to ensure they can keep their communities safe,” said New York State Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Patrick A. Murphy. “Thanks to this funding, first responders across the state will be able to strengthen their planning and coordination efforts even further so all of New York is prepared to handle anything thrown our way.”

Through this annual grant program, funding is available competitively to the top Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) throughout the country to encourage innovative regional solutions to issues related to catastrophic incidents, close known capability gaps, and build on regional preparedness efforts to stabilize and restore critical services and systems after an emergency. This year, states were eligible to apply and regional pandemic preparedness was added as a program objective to address community-based resources and core capabilities essential to pandemic preparedness.

New York State will utilize funding for various initiatives through the State Office of Emergency Management, as well as projects identified by four regional working groups: Western NY (City of Buffalo, Erie and Niagara counties), Capital District Region (Schenectady and Rensselaer counties), Mid-Hudson Region (cities of Poughkeepsie and Newburgh and Dutchess and Orange counties); and Central NY (City of Syracuse and Onondaga County).

Projects will focus on streamlining supply chain management to quickly provide shelter, food, and water to the State’s population following a disaster, as well as improving the purchase and distribution of equipment used to save lives during an emergency response.  Other initiatives include training and exercises to test capabilities in various scenarios, programs to strengthen and enhance continuity of operations planning, first responder health and wellness, and investing in tools and systems to improve tracking of resources and activities in a complex, statewide emergency, as well as timely alert and notification of major incidents to the public.

About the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services

The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services provides 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 Instagram, or visit dhses.ny.gov.