Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger has announced that the County’s Department of Emergency Services has coordinated a multi-agency emergency exercise to be held at the campus of Woodland Pond at New Paltz on October 4. For more than a year, the Ulster County Department of Emergency Services has been the lead agency in planning for this wide-scale emergency exercise in partnership with Woodland Pond at New Paltz. The exercise will involve members of the Ulster County Department of Emergency Services, Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, New Paltz Police Department, New Paltz Fire Department, New Paltz Rescue Squad, NYS Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services - Office of Emergency Management and the American Red Cross responding to an undisclosed emergency scenario. Neighbors of the campus will see a large emergency responder presence on October 4 and during the duration of the exercise. Entry and exit to and from the campus will be prohibited.
“The primary objective of government is to keep our residents safe – no matter what happens,” said Metzger. “Here in Ulster County, we have witnessed our share of emergency situations, and we are committed to ensuring that all of our first responders and government resources are fully prepared and ready for any conceivable emergency situation. This multi-agency emergency preparedness training is a testament to the incredible work of our Emergency Services Department, led by Everett Erichsen, and the strategic partnerships we maintain with local first responders and the general public. We are extremely grateful to Woodland Pond for their partnership in organizing this critical exercise, and look forward to continuing to work with their capable team for future exercises.”
“In the world of emergency management, the success of a multi-agency exercise isn’t measured solely in terms of response efficiency; it’s a testament to our collective commitment to preparedness, collaboration and the resilience of our communities,” said Everett Erichsen, Director of the Ulster County Department of Emergency Services. “When we train together we stand together, ready to face any challenge that comes our way. I am very thankful to Woodland Pond at New Paltz for partnering with us to put together this multi-agency exercise, as well as Deputy Director Michael Madison for coordinating with them.”
Kamryn Ilgner, Woodland Pond’s Strategic Initiatives Specialist explains, “This multi-agency exercise will provide an opportunity for a variety of our County’s first responders and emergency planners a one-of-a-kind opportunity to practice coordinated tactical field response to an emergency situation in a way that has never been done in Ulster County before.” Ilgner goes on to add, “Woodland Pond and our staff and residents are thrilled to be a part of history in this way.”
Coincidentally, on October 4, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will perform a nationwide test of an emergency alert to cellular phones, radios, and televisions. This will be a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). Both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 4. The purpose of the Oct. 4 test is to ensure that the systems continue to be an effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level. The alerts will last for up to 30 minutes and read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System.