"New York knows first-hand the devastation that extreme
weather can leave behind, and we stand ready to help those who are in the path
of Hurricane Florence in any way we can," Governor Cuomo said. "New
Yorkers always help their neighbors in their time of need and just as we have
stood shoulder to shoulder with Puerto Rico, Texas and Florida after last
year's destructive storms, we will once again stand ready to lend a hand to our
fellow Americans."
Additionally, the New York Army National Guard is ready to
deploy two CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopters and two UH-60 Blackhawk medical
evacuation helicopters to assist in storm response efforts. The CH-47 is a
large double rotor helicopter which can carry up to 9.5 tons of cargo or up to
30 people. The UH-60 aircraft are equipped with hoists and could be used for
rescues as well as carrying medical patients. The helicopters would all come
out of our Army Aviation Support Facility at Rochester International Airport
and are on standby waiting for deployment orders.
State Assets Ready for Deployment
New York State's stockpiles are well equipped, prepared and
ready for deployment to impacted states with over 1.8 million sandbags, nearly
700 generators, over 1,250 pumps, over 4,000 flashlights, over 438,000 cans and
bottles of water, over 500 chainsaws, over 200 light towers, over 28,500 ready
to eat meals and thousands of cots, blankets and pillows.
New York's Urban Search and Rescue team also stands at the
ready with personnel and equipment. NY Task Force 2 (NYTF-2), is a specialized
team of first responders and equipment skilled in structural collapse rescue,
excavation emergencies, technical rope rescues, confined space rescue, and
other specialized rescues. Additionally, the state's incident management team
is also ready to assist with response and recovery efforts including command
and control, planning, logistics and administration activities, operational
coordination, obtaining situational information and reporting, incident action
planning, GIS mapping, and logistical support for ongoing response operations.
The State Department of Transportation stands ready to
assist states impacted by Hurricane Florence with traffic signal crews, tree
clearing crews, and other assets ready for deployment to assist these states as
needed. These activities may encompass
road clearing and assistance with power outages at traffic signals. The Department currently has 14 tree crew
bucket trucks, 76 wood chippers, and 56 traffic signal trucks available.
Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Food
Production Center in Rome, NY is ready to provide thousands of pre-assembled
lunches for communities hard hit by Hurricane Florence.
While initial request for utility crews has been satisfied
in locations closer to the potential impact area, New York Power Authority
crews are ready and will coordinate any further mutual aid requests with New
York's utilities, which are fully participating in the mutual aid
protocols.
New York has a long history of helping other states
following natural disasters. In addition to sending similar assistance to
Florida following Hurricanes Irma, Harvey, Maria, Matthew, Frances, Ivan, and
Dennis, New York dispatched a multi-agency team of more than 300 individuals to
assist Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina, as well as another 18-member team
after Hurricane Gustav. Additionally, New York has sent crews of firefighters
west many times to assist with containing wildfires.
