New York rolls out new state emergency management system
ALBANY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services' Office of Emergency Management has completed the phase one rollout of NY Responds, the state's new approach to disaster response and recovery.
With the completion of phase one, county emergency management agencies can now connect with the state Emergency Operations Center in Albany to improve coordination and cooperation during a disaster or emergency.
"NY Responds is transforming and strengthening the way this state responds to disasters and other emergency situations,” said Cuomo in a news release. "This new approach is key in executing a coordinated response which helps communities stay better informed when an emergency situation occurs and recover more quickly."
The enhanced incident management system, provided at no cost to localities, will enable local governments and state agencies to submit and share disaster-related information ranging from incident reporting and resource requests to real-time tracking of assets and weather conditions.
Herkimer County Office of Emergency Services Director Robert Vandawalker said in a release the department had the opportunity to make use of the recently activated NY Responds System.
“Our office generated a report through NY Responds that was immediately acknowledged and processed by the state Office of Emergency Management, which streamlined the flow of information,” he said. “We feel that the NY Responds system is a major step towards improving emergency management and response in New York state."_
Additionally as part of NY Responds, the division continues to train and provide state agencies and counties access to Mutualink, a new technology solution that integrates telephone, radio, video and file sharing into one, interoperable application. This system enables local emergency staff to share real-time information with the state and other counties. The rollout and integration of Mutualink into the NY Responds common operating picture will begin in 2016._
During phase two, the division will make additional upgrades to the incident management system adding improved geographic information systems, weather forecasting and modeling, additional Mutualink features, asset and inventory management and notifications and alerting. Phase two is expected to start in 2016._
“Once fully implemented within all counties, NY Responds will give emergency managers and elected officials a better way to work with the state and with other local governments during a crisis,” said John Melville, commissioner for the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, in a release.
New York State Emergency Managers Association Regional Vice President and Rensselaer County Bureau of Public Safety Director Kelly Paslow said that this will set a standard tool that will enable access to the state's Emergency Operations Center. She also said it will provide real-time situational awareness through an Internet based program with no cost to county governments.
“It allows emergency managers to obtain important information during an event and allows each requesting county to track their requests for state assets," she said.