DHSES to Fund Regional Hazardous Materials Teams Across New York State

ALBANY, NY (10/14/2010)(readMedia)-- The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) today announced the availability of $1 million in funding to develop regional Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Teams across New York State.

"The HazMat Grant funds are yet another facet of our State Homeland Security Strategy – strengthening our preparedness and response capabilities on a regional basis," said Acting DHSES Commissioner John R. Gibb. "We are working closely with the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) to enhance these regional capabilities to better protect the citizens we serve."

The HazMat Grant Program is focused on the development of regional partnerships to enhance hazardous materials response capabilities statewide. The grant was launched in 2008 and nine regional partnerships received $500,000 cumulatively to enhance their partnerships' capabilities. Based on the response to the program in 2008, $1 million was made available for the HazMat Grant in 2009 and 13 regional partnerships received awards. Funding for the 2010 initiative is made available through the federal FY2010 State Homeland Security Grant Program

HazMat teams respond to a myriad of incidents that include poisons, flammable liquids, and gases. The specter of terrorism has placed even higher expectations on the State's HazMat Teams. These teams continually are preparing for terrorism incidents involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive agents. The support provided through the HazMat Grant Program allows teams to work together regionally to build their terrorism preparedness capabilities to best serve the citizens of New York State.

Building on the progress made in 2008 and 2009, the core objectives for 2010 HazMat Grant Program include:

• Development/enhancement of regional HazMat partnerships.

• Advancement of WMD/HazMat response and decontamination capabilities.

• Increasing the National Incident Management System typing standing of New York State HazMat teams.

Given the regional focus of this program, individual HazMat Teams are not eligible to apply; rather, two or more HazMat teams in the State must pair together. The "submitting partner" must be a local, publicly-funded HazMat team, while "participating partners" can include both public and/or private HazMat teams. The application request cap is $125,000 and funds can be used to support equipment acquisition, planning, training, and exercise activities. Applications must be filed with DHSES by December 15, 2010.

In conjunction with the commencement of the 2010 HazMat Grant Program application period, DHSES is hosting the fourth annual HazMat Leadership Forum this Friday and Saturday in Vernon, Oneida County. This event brings together HazMat team leaders from across the State to reinforce relationships, to develop strategies for future regional efforts, and to identify "best practices" and "lessons learned" within the State's HazMat community.

"The Leadership Forum has proven to be an excellent opportunity for interaction among State and local hazmat experts," said State Fire Administrator Floyd A. Madison, who also serves as Director of OFPC. "The feedback and recommendations we have received at past forums have been instrumental in enhancing future grant programs, training and other outreach in the HazMat community."

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