Area counties in line for emergency response funding

Elmira, N.Y., October 17—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats) said that each of the counties he represents as part of New York’s 58th Senate District will receive public safety grants as part of a new package of $10 million in statewide funding to support local emergency response operations.

The grants are administered by the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) and go to support localities that operate 9-1-1 response and emergency service dispatch operations.  

“These timely and important public safety and emergency response grants will make a great difference to counties and local first responders across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions,” said O’Mara.  “Emergency preparedness, response and recovery are fundamental government responsibilities.”

The funding is being delivered through the state Public Safety Awareness Points (PSAP) Operations Grant program to help counties meet the costs of eligible public safety call-taking and dispatching oeprations.  Across the state, counties deliver the bulk of 9-1-1 answering and dispatching operations, and coordinate the services among municipal, county and state responders. 

The PSAP grants are targeted to enhance county-level emergency preparedness and response capabilities, and support critical infrastructure projects. 

The following grants are being awarded to the counties comprising O’Mara’s 58th Senate Distritct: Chemung ($180,464), Schuyler ($118,716), Steuben ($188,793), Tompkins ($150,506), and Yates ($156,569).