WPCNR ALBANY TIMES. From The Office of District 89 Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. April 27, 2004: Assemblyman Adam Bradley (D-White Plains) announced that he sponsored a plan to remedy the lack of adequate funding, equipment and training for New York State’s emergency personnel.

The Assembly held a March hearing in Albany on statewide emergency first response, which includes fire, police and emergency medical service. To address the key issues raised during the hearing, the Assembly developed the Terrorism Prevention, Preparedness and Enforcement Act (A.10543).

“The Assembly report found insufficient funding and a lack of equipment and training for Emergency Personnel. That’s unacceptable and must be immediately addressed by the state and federal government,” Bradley said. “First responders must be prepared for every type of emergency, whether it is a natural disaster or terrorism.”

Working to improve statewide emergency communication

      “When first responders are unable to communicate with each other, their ability to adequately respond to emergency situations is severely impeded,” Bradley said. “The Assembly is taking steps to remedy the lack of acceptable communications equipment as soon as possible.”

During the Assembly’s March hearing, first responders cited inadequate, outdated and malfunctioning communications equipment as a major weakness in the state’s ability to respond to emergency situations. The Assembly has been working to develop a statewide emergency response communications network that would allow all state and local first responders to communicate with each other. A planned $500 million network for statewide agencies doesn’t adequately take local agencies into account. The Assembly is also working to provide emergency personnel with adequate equipment by:

·        requiring the Office of Public Security to consult with local first responders in providing emergency equipment to ensure that it is provided in a timely manner and meets local needs;

·        establishing a centralized grant office to provide one-stop grant information to municipalities; and

·        creating a low-interest emergency first responder revolving loan fund with priority given to municipalities that share resources.

“Our first responders – police, firefighters and EMTs – are on the frontlines everyday protecting our families. We owe it to them to ensure they have the resources they need to safely and successfully do their jobs,” Bradley said. “I will continue to fight to make our first responders a top priority.”