Skoufis touts combined $395K in emergency preparedness grants for his district

Senator James Skoufis (D-Hudson Valley) is touting a combined $395,345 in grant funding for counties and municipalities throughout his Senate District to support a variety of emergency preparedness efforts.

The funding will be administered by the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services in the following capacities:

Bomb Squads Program

Rockland County will receive $104,545 to help equip and train its local FBI-accredited bomb squad, improving their efforts to locate and prevent potential emergencies caused by improvised explosive devices.

Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Targeted Grant Program

Orange County’s regional HazMat team, which also encompasses Rockland, Sullivan, and Ulster counties, will receive $142,000 to obtain and maintain essential equipment, implement the HazMat Team Accreditation Program, conduct training and exercises and/or develop and update response plans.

Explosive Detection Canine Team Grant Program

Three localities within the district will receive funding to provide local law enforcement agencies with aid for active road patrol and explosive detection canine capabilities. Orange County will receive $6,000, Rockland County will receive $15,000 and the Town of Woodbury will receive $50,000.

Critical Infrastructure Grant Program

The Town of Monroe will receive $27,800 and the Village of Woodbury will receive $50,000 to support local first responder’s efforts to mitigate risk and enhance protection at mass gatherings/special event sites and government-owned critical infrastructure sites.

“We must continue to support enhancements to public safety operations so that Hudson Valley communities are secure and our law enforcement professionals have the resources they need in the line of duty,” Skoufis said in the press release detailing the funding.

Added Patrick A. Murphy, commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services: “New Yorkers rely on the state’s public safety professionals in an emergency and these funds will help ensure these preparedness capabilities have the funding and resources needed to protect our citizens. The Division will continue to support these vital teams and capabilities so they can continue protecting New Yorkers.”