Governor Cuomo declares State of Emergency

Albany, NY (February 8, 2013)

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today declared a state of emergency as a major winter storm has already started to bring heavy snow and high winds to parts of New York State. A state of emergency mobilizes resources to local governments that otherwise are restricted to state use only and allows the Governor to suspend laws and regulations that would impede rapid response. The disaster declaration is in effect for the following counties: Bronx, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester.

The Governor urged New Yorkers to avoid traveling and stay inside their homes until the worst of the storm has passed. Blizzard warnings remain in effect through 1:00 PM Saturday for affected areas of the state. An estimated 10-14 inches of snow is expected for New York City with areas in Long Island possibly receiving upwards of 20 inches. Wind speeds are beginning to pick up with gusts reaching 40 mph in NYC and a chance for gusts to reach near 70 mph on the forks of Long Island.

“As this winter storm unfolds, bringing heavy snow and high winds to parts of the state, I strongly urge all New Yorkers to exercise caution, avoid travel, and stay indoors,” Governor Cuomo said. “To ensure an effective and rapid response to this winter storm, I am declaring a state of emergency for counties in the lower Hudson Valley, New York City, and Long Island so resources can get to communities where they are needed as quickly as possible.”

For more information on the declaration, click on the following link:

http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/02082013State-of-Emergency

APCO Public Safety Communications article on Hurricane Sandy

NY-TERT response to Hurricane Sandy

Check out my article on NY-TERT's response to Hurricane Sandy in the January 2013 digital edition of APCO's Public Safety Communications Magazine. The article will appear in hardcopy format in February 2013. An excerpt from the article will also appear in the February 2013 issue of the New York State Association of Counties

Tragedy in Rochester, NY

I wanted to take a moment to thank those of you who reached out today to offer condolences, thoughts, and prayers for the firefighters who lost their lives early this morning in West Webster, NY. Four firefighters were shot shortly after arriving at the scene of a house fire in an apparent ambush on the responders. Two of the four firefighters were fatally wounded. Mike Chiapperini and Tomasz Kaczowka, both volunteers with the West Webster Fire District, lost their lives shortly after arriving at the scene. Mike was a Lieutentant with the Webster Police Department. Tomasz was a Fire Dispatcher in our 911 Center. Both will be missed dearly.

Warren County TERT Training - December 6 & 7, 2012

NY-TERT's newest Team Leaders

Congratulations to NY-TERT's newest deployable Team Leaders, certified on December 7, 2012 at the Warren County, NY TERT Team Leader training

Mike Hennessey - Colonie PD
Michael T. Davis - Ulster
Roy Stiles - Colonie PD
Marcella Bender - Albany County
Glen P. Gosnell - Washington
Timothy R. Hardy - Washington
Brian Dunican Jr. - Albany County
Vickie L. Waters - Warren
Anthony M. Fidd - Warren
Robert S. LaGoy - Warren
Kristal B. Washburn - Warren
Lisa S. Mansfield - Warren
Bob Davis - Colonie PD
Toby Dusha - NYS DHSES
Kevin Johnson - Columbia
Jackie Brown - St. Lawrence
Tammy Sapp - St. Lawrence

Congratulations!

NY-TERT's newest deployable team members

Congratulations to NY-TERT's newest deployable team members, certified at the December 6, 2012 Deployment Awareness training in Warren County, NY

Clifton J. Witham - Washington
Athur L. Porlier, Jr. - Washington
William Brown - Washington
Joel T. Archambault - Washington
Twila Dopp - Montgomery
Dyana Close - Montgomery
Lori Bartlett - Columbia
Holly Gambacorta - Columbia
Donna Gleason - Columbia
Robyn Sweet - Columbia

Congratulations!