Watertown Getting $900K To Improve Emergency Communication

The city of Watertown is getting more than $900,000 to improve communication between emergency officials.

The announcement was made Wednesday by Governor David Paterson.

The following is a news release:

Governor David A. Paterson today announced that $12 million in federal funds have been awarded to ten counties and the city of Watertown to help improve communications between first responders. The grants are part of the Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program, and will help state and local emergency responders improve communications and coordination during a natural or man-made disaster.

“These funds are vital to ensure our first responders have the means to communicate with each other to support a coordinated response to emergencies,” said Governor Paterson. “As we continue to do everything possible to enhance our preparedness and response capabilities throughout the State, I thank the Department of Homeland Security, Secretary Michael Chertoff and our congressional delegation for supporting our efforts.”

This is the first year that the PSIC grant program has been made available and each award recipient was required to cover more than one jurisdiction and be multi-disciplined. Applicants were selected through a competitive process involving submitting a Request for Proposal (RFP). Each agency receiving PSIC funds was required to meet and document a 20 percent statutory match requirement for each project during a period of 27 months.

The PSIC grants are made available from funds administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The PSIC Grant Program is a formula-based, matching grant program intended to enhance interoperable communications with respect to voice, data, and/or video signals. PSIC provides public safety agencies with the opportunity to achieve meaningful and measurable improvements to the state of public safety communications interoperability through the full and efficient use of all telecommunications resources.

Earlier this year when the PSIC grant program was announced, New York State was awarded $60 million, $34 million of which was awarded to the New York City urban area.

The following jurisdictions will receive PSIC grants:

Monroe County - $2,607,000
Wayne County - $1,629,519.20
Seneca County - $1,141,440
Tompkins County - $68,000
Rockland County - $600,000
Orange County - $1,372,500
Ontario County - $448,560
Erie County - $1,612,439
Otsego County - $335,440
Allegany County - $1,700,475.96
City of Watertown - $901,600

The remaining $14 million of the federal grant is being utilized by the State to support interoperable communication initiatives. One of these initiatives includes six interoperable vehicles assigned to the State Emergency Management Office (SEMO).

Michael Balboni, Governor Paterson’s Deputy Secretary for Public Safety, said: “We know that effective communication is the basis for a successful coordinated response. This federal funding will provide our first responders with the tools they need to protect the people they serve.”

Dr. Melodie Mayberry-Stewart, New York State Chief Information Officer and Director of the Office for Technology, said: “First responders who cannot communicate with each other cannot adequately protect the citizens they serve and may put themselves in jeopardy. The PSIC grants will enable local first responders to upgrade existing equipment or purchase additional technology that will ensure they have the modern, reliable emergency communication tools they require. We are pleased to work with the New York State Office of Homeland Security to administer the PSIC grant program.”

F. David Sheppard, Acting Director of the State Office of Homeland Security, said: “These grant monies support the linchpin of our State homeland security strategy which is interoperable communications. We will continue working with our local partners to ensure that we maintain our readiness at the highest of levels.”