Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Division of

Agency Web Site: http://www.dhses.ny.gov/

Mission

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) provides leadership, coordination and support for efforts to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorism and other man-made and natural disasters, threats, fires and emergencies.

Organization and Staffing

To carry out the agency’s mission, DHSES is organized as follows:

• Office of Counter Terrorism;
• Office of Emergency Management;
• Office of Fire Prevention and Control;
• Office of Interoperable and Emergency Communications;
• Office of Asset Management and State Preparedness Training Center;
• Office of Recovery Programs; and
• Office of Administration and Finance.

DHSES has a central office in Albany, a satellite office in New York City, ten stockpile locations, and regional offices in support of the five Emergency Management Regions statewide. In addition, the State Preparedness Training Center (SPTC), located in Oriskany and the Academy of Fire Science in Montour Falls, serve as key training facilities for first responders across the State.

Budget Highlights

The FY2022 Executive Budget recommends $4.969 billion in support for DHSES ($154.3 million in the General Fund; $4.65 billion in Special Revenue - Federal Funds; $127.2 million in Special Revenue - Other Funds; and $33.5 million in State Capital). The FY 2022 budget recommends an increase of $3.4B to the Federal Disaster Assistance appropriation, which will be used to reimburse locals for their Federal share of COVID-19 claims submitted to FEMA.

Capital programming includes $3.0 million to support preventative maintenance projects at DHSES training facilities and $30.5 million in new appropriations to support current grants awarded through the Office of Interoperable Emergency Communications. All appropriations for the Superstorm Sandy recovery effort have been re-appropriated and spending is expected to continue for several years.

The Executive Budget includes new appropriations of $75 million to further develop interoperable public safety communications, a funding level equivalent to FY 2021.

The FY2022 Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 570 FTEs, no change from the previous fiscal year.

Program Highlights

Counter Terrorism

DHSES conducts annual Red Team exercises to test the security measures of businesses and facilities in each of the State’s 16 Counter Terrorism Zones. These exercises evaluate and enhance the effectiveness of the State’s suspicious activity reporting programs; partnerships between local and State law enforcement business owners and the public; and the State’s overall counter terrorism posture. While personnel began planning efforts in the first quarter, the efficacy of conducting these exercises was influenced by a lack of mass-gathering events, restrictions and closures of businesses, and a notable burden on critical infrastructure partners. Resultantly, no Red Team exercises took place during the calendar year 2020, however, the Office of Counter Terrorism (OCT) personnel have begun to plan 2021 Red Team activity in conformance with the COVID-19 environment.

Cyber Incident Response Team

The Executive Budget continues to include funding to maintain a multi-agency team to assist non-Executive agencies, local governments, and public authorities in how to better protect their information technology assets, critical operating systems and data from cyber attacks, malware and ransomware.

State Preparedness Training Center (SPTC)

The SPTC is a state-of-the-art multidisciplinary facility providing training to State, local, and Federal emergency first responders. It contains a variety of training venues for both scenario-based and classroom training, including the Cityscape complex, which is a critical component to the Advanced Active Shooter Scenario courses. The Swift Water Rescue Simulator, completed in May 2018, offers training to local emergency responders from across the State. A theater, which will serve as a realistic training venue for active shooter drills, is in the beginning stages of construction.

Field Operations Building at the Academy of Fire Sciences

The construction of the new 20,000 square foot Field Operations Building (FOB) located on the training grounds at the Academy of Fire Sciences in Montour Falls, NY was completed in Fall 2020. The FOB provides increased classroom space for career and volunteer firefighters; storage space for fire apparatus, turnout gear and training equipment; shower and locker rooms for removal of contaminants; and a washer/extractor for decontaminating personal protective equipment. The FOB has already been utilized for the Recruit Firefighter Training program and will be an integral part of DHSES’ training programs.

Transportation Security Training

DHSES conducts train-the-trainer programs and provide direct training to civilian airport employees focused on increasing security awareness and active shooter preparedness. The program places emphasis on the importance of their role in reporting potential threats and responding appropriately during an emergency in order to protect themselves and the public.

Citizen Preparedness Corps Training

Training sessions led by the New York National Guard and the Red Cross, working with DHSES Emergency Management and Fire Prevention and Control experts, equip citizens with the tools and resources to prepare for any type of disaster in their community, respond accordingly, and recover as quickly as possible to pre-disaster conditions. Approximately 344,000 citizens have been trained since the program began. While in-person trainings are currently postponed due to COVID-19, the online training has been updated and is available at www.prepare.ny.gov.

NY Responds

The implementation of this state-of-the-art online incident management system is ongoing. Planned enhancements include continued county and State use of the Mutualink interoperability platform during incidents.

Emergency Stockpiles

DHSES operates and maintains ten strategically located stockpile facilities that house resources often needed in response to disasters and emergencies, including generators, light towers, water tankers, food, water, cots, blankets and other supplies. Through NY Responds, local governments can request and quickly obtain needed supplies and equipment.

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/19/2021