ALBANY, NY (03/19/2012)(readMedia)-- The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) today announced that 11 regional partnerships across New York State will receive cumulatively $1 million in funding to support and enhance regional Hazardous Materials (HazMat) teams.
"These targeted HazMat grant funds are a critical component in strengthening the State's preparedness and response capabilities," said DHSES Commissioner Jerome M. Hauer. "DHSES' Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) continues to work closely with our local partners to improve regional HazMat response capabilities."
Award recipients include:
The HazMat Grant Program focuses on the development of regional partnerships to enhance hazardous materials response capabilities statewide. Since the grant was launched in 2008, approximately 20 regional partnerships have received $3.5 million cumulatively to enhance their partnerships' capabilities.
Funding for the 2011 initiative is made available through the federal FY2011 State Homeland Security Grant Program. Due to the regional focus of the grant program, individual HazMat Teams are not eligible to apply – instead, two or more HazMat teams in the state must pair together.
HazMat teams respond to many types of incidents, including those involving poisons, flammable liquids, and gases. The threat of terrorism has placed higher expectations on the state's HazMat Teams, which continually prepare for terrorism-related incidents involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive agents. Support provided through the HazMat Grant Program allows teams to better protect New Yorkers by working together regionally to improve that state's terrorism preparedness capabilities.
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