State Homeland Security Grants Awarded To HV Municipalities, Counties

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Federal funding awards through the state Homeland Security Program will be sent to 77 cities, towns, village and counties in New York, including many in the Hudson Valley.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday $9 million in funding designed to enhance the public safety and preparedness of municipalities.

Specifically the money is allocated to New York’s bomb squads, hazardous materials teams, explosive detection canine teams, tactical teams, technical rescue and urban search and rescue teams.

Hochul said the state’s homeland security capabilities will be greatly strengthened thanks to a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security and the grant.

“My number one commitment is to keep New Yorkers safe,” she said, “and with these funds in place, New York will be better prepared to respond to any security threat that may come.”

Bomb Squads: to help equip and train FBI-accredited bomb squads and prevent potential emergencies caused by improvised explosive devices.

Awardees in the Hudson Valley are:

• Rockland County: $110,000
• Westchester County: $318,000

Hazardous Materials Targeted Grant Program: to sustain and enhance HazMat capabilities to help respond to and recover from acts of terrorism and other emergencies.

Awardees in the Hudson Valley are:

• Columbia County: $44,300
• Orange County: $141,200
• Westchester County: $122,500

Critical Infrastructure Grant Program: to support local first responder’s efforts to mitigate risk and enhance protection capabilities at mass gatherings/special event sites.

Awardees in the Hudson Valley are:

• Town of Eastchester: $50,000
• City of White Plains: $42,940
• City of Yonkers: $47,777

Cyber Security Grant Program: support to protect, detect, respond to and recover from cyber incidents.

Awardees in the Hudson Valley are:

• Town of Carmel: $2,626
• Columbia County: $27,990
• Dutchess County: $50,000
• Orange County: $50,000
• Town of Orangetown: $50,000
• Rockland County: $42,989
• Ulster County: $50,000
• Westchester County: $50,000

Explosive Detection Canine Team Grant Program: to develop and enhance explosive detection canine capabilities.

Awardees in the Hudson Valley are:

• City of Middletown: $50,000
• Orange County: $50,000
• City of Peekskill: $15,000
• Rockland County: $15,000
• Town of Saugerties: $15,000
• Westchester County: $65,000
• City of White Plains: $15,000
• Town of Woodbury: $15,000

Tactical Team Targeted Grant Program: provide adequate skills and capabilities to provide successful response to high-risk incidents including active shooter events and other counterterrorism missions.

Awardees in the Hudson Valley are:

• City of New Rochelle: $75,000
• Village of Ossining: $38,439
• City of White Plains: $75,000
• Town of Woodbury: $75,000

Orange County also received $149,980 from the Technical Rescue and Urban Search and Rescue Grant Program, which is for local emergency responders who conduct search and rescue operations involving structural collapse, trench, confined space and rope rescues.