New York to deploy statewide emergency management software
Connecting state and local government leaders
The technology is part of “NY Responds,” the state’s newly integrated approach to disaster preparedness and response.
The state of New York had a relatively mild winter last year, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo is not counting on a repeat performance -- and this week announced that the state is turning to technology to help prepare for possible winter emergencies.
Every New York county will now have access to free universal emergency management software that will give local governments and state agencies one system in which to register and share incident reports, resource requests and other vital information in disaster-related situations.
The new system also will update counties on local disasters and integrate telephone, radio, video and file sharing into one application. Currently, counties across the state use a variety of software systems; some have no emergency software at all.
With NY Responds, the governor's office said, state agencies will be able to respond to weather, medical and active shooter situations quicker and more accurately. The statewide rollout of NY Responds to all counties is estimated to cost $1.5 million with additional annual maintenance costs of $406,000.
“When disaster strikes, we must be able to respond quickly and effectively in order to keep New Yorkers safe, and that is what today is all about,” Cuomo said in announcing the program. “Through NY Responds, every county in this state will have access to first-class emergency management technology.”
This software will be supported by mapping and location technology, which will facilitate faster development of a common operating picture. The enhanced system allows for access to more than 100 data layers, such as power outages, traffic cameras and status reports on critical infrastructure.
The state has also installed GPS technology in almost 1,840 plows, dump trucks and utility vehicles, so their location can be tracked. Other critical items such as generators, light towers and sandbaggers will also be outfitted with GPS trackers. The statewide emergency management software also will also feature real-time weather forecasting through the New York State Early Warning Detection System, state officials said.