Schumer: Capital Region Interoperable Network for Emergency Responders Threatened by Cuts in Counter Terrorism Funding to Region -- Schumer Calls on Feds to Give Albany Area its Fair Share

Statement

For Years, Albany-Area Consortium Has Been Constructing Interoperable Network That Will Allow Police and Firefighters Across Five County Region to Communicate During Emergencies

Currently Emergency Responders Would Have Difficulty Communicating if a Mass Response Was Needed - Federal Funding Was Cut In Half Last Year

Schumer: Capital Region Is Highly Populated, The Heart

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide the Capital Region with its fair share of counter terrorism funding after cuts in the last year have threatened the region's communications network. The federal program, the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI), has been a critical component of the region's emergency preparedness strategy but has undergone severe cuts in the last year. Today, Schumer stood with local first responders and called on DHS to increase the region's funding in the next year.

"The Capital Region is a high-profile and thus high-risk area, and the federal government has a responsibility to help make sure it's secure," Schumer said. "We know far too well the danger of what happens when first responders can't talk to each other in the event of an emergency, and not providing the Albany region with its fare share of funds would undue significant progress that has been made over the past years."

"The Capital Region is one of the fastest growing high tech hubs in the country, a key reason our first responders have been working together to prepare for any emergency that could result from that growth," said Congressman Paul Tonko. "The simple truth is that we can't afford to jeopardize the investments that have been made in this region, and the federal government needs to step up and meet its responsibility to help keep this region secure."

Last year, despite an overall increase in this type of funding nationwide, the Capital region saw its funding level cut by almost 50%. Currently, the Albany Urban Area Working Group (UAWG), consisting of Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady and Schoharie Counties, are working on constructing an interoperable communications network that would allow all the area's first responders to communicate in the event of a natural disaster or an attack on one of the region's numerous high-profile targets. The construction of this critical network will be severely hindered if the Capital Region is not given its share of funding this year, and the investments that have already been made could be lost.

When the interoperability project is complete, all first responder agencies (Police, Fire, EMS, HazMat) throughout the region will be able to speak directly to one another. This will speed response times and improve cooperation during regional emergencies. The concept is a regional hub and spoke with the cities of Albany, Schenectady, and Troy as hubs and nearby communities as spokes. Critical partners such as area universities, Albany Medical Center, and Albany Nanotech will be part of the regional communications network.

Currently, first responders from different localities cannot speak directly to one another. Albany Police cannot speak directly to Schenectady Police, Schenectady cannot speak to Troy, etc. In some cases, first responder disciplines within a municipality cannot speak directly to one another. Within the region some municipalities -Albany County and the City of Albany, for example - have the most up-to-date communications equipment and networks while others do not. This inhibits direct communication.

Schumer was joined by Congressman Paul Tonko, Albany County Executive Mike Breslin, Mayor of Albany Jerry Jennings, Mayor of Schenectady Brian Stratton, and Rensselaer County Executive, Kathy Jimino, and Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature, Sue Savage stood at Albany City Hall. The group made the case that increasing security funding was essential to ensure that first responders can communicate in the case of a natural disaster or terrorist attack.

The Capital Region has many critical assets to the geographic Northeast corridor of the U.S., that could serve as targets for terrorists. Albany is an international leader in nanotech and emerging technologies, it is the transportation crossroads of the Northeast, and it houses key public infrastructure for the state of New York. The Albany Region also carries the economic and symbolic importance as the New York State capital.

The Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) program focuses on enhancing regional preparedness in major metropolitan areas. The UASI program directly supports the National Priority on expanding regional collaboration in the National Preparedness Guidelines and is intended to assist participating jurisdictions in developing integrated regional systems for prevention, protection, response, and recovery. Consistent with the 9/11 Act, states are required to ensure that at least 25 percent of UASI appropriated funds are dedicated towards law enforcement terrorism prevention-oriented planning, organization, training, exercise, and equipment activities, including those activities which support the development and operation of fusion centers.

In past few years, there has been a disturbing trend in Albany UAWG's federal funding. From 2009 to 2010, funding award dropped from $1,924,250 to $1,011,141. In 2010, the Albany was one of only 2 urban areas of the 62 nationwide to suffer a significant funding cut. All of this was despite the fact that overall funding increased in the UASI Program from FY2009 to FY2010.

The best way to protect these assets is to encourage and develop a cooperative, regional response to the regions mutual challenges and threats. One County or city cannot respond to a significant security threat, pandemic, or catastrophic event nearly as effectively as a regional organization is able to. The Albany UAWG has existing and meaningful working relationships throughout the area, and it is critical that the planning efforts continue. Without the adequate UASI funding, these efforts could fall short of the intended protection and safety that is essential to the Capital Region.

Schumer added, "In an emergency situation the ability to access 21st century communication is essential, but without these funds the Capital Region won't have the resources it needs. I'll be working to make sure the Capital Region gets it fair share of security funding this year so that, if God forbid a disaster happens, our first responders can communicate."

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