Goshen, N.Y. – Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus announced on Wednesday that the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services has awarded the County $147,960 through its Technical Rescue and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Grant Program.

“This grant provides important funding that will greatly assist our emergency response capabilities in dealing with technical rescues,” Neuhaus said. “It contributes much needed funding for training and equipment to make sure that our emergency responders have the best resources in order to save lives. I’m proud of the County’s Fire Services team and their hard work in preparing this grant application.”

Equipment funded through the grant will be utilized by the Orange County Technical Rescue Team, which is comprised of approximately 100 career and volunteer firefighters from departments throughout the County. The unit responds to structural collapse, confined space, trench rescue and high angle rope rescue incidents in and is available for mutual aid assistance to neighboring counties.

Highlights of Equipment specified in the USAR grant include:

Collapse Rescue Equipment: Shoring, cutting and disentanglement equipment/tools that would be used in structural collapse (building) type incidents.

Rope Rescue Equipment: Various rope, harnesses and gear utilized for high-angle rope rescues.

Personal Protective Equipment (gear) for team members.

“The Orange County Technical Rescue Team mission is to respond to some of the most complex rescue situations imaginable,” said Vini Tankasali, the County’s Deputy Commissioner of Fire Services. “It is critical for the team to be outfitted with the proper specialized equipment and gear. This grant will help us accomplish that.”

For more information, contact Justin Rodriguez, Assistant to the County Executive for Communications and Media Relations at 845.291.3255 or jrodriguez@orangecountygov.com.

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