Welcome
Welcome to the official website of the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES). We hope you will find the information here to be a valuable and useful resource, whether you are an emergency manager, first responder, or a member of the public.
Created in 2010, DHSES and its four offices -- Counter Terrorism, Emergency Management, Fire Prevention and Control, and Interoperable and Emergency Communications -- provide 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 other emergencies.
The women and men of DHSES are dedicated to working closely on a daily basis with all levels of government, the private sector, and volunteer organizations to improve the readiness, response and recovery capabilities of communities throughout the Empire State.
Under Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's leadership, DHSES has taken great strides in enhancing the State's readiness and response capabilities. From terrorist threats to natural weather disasters, the demands for public health and safety continue to increase as they simultaneously become more complex. As we face these challenges, it is critical that we remain focused on strengthening our partnerships through increased communication and coordination.
The website provides daily awareness of emergency-related events and activities from throughout the State including State Fire alerts and bulletins, weather and travel, and State and national threat levels. It also provides easy access to reporting terrorism tips as part of the State's "See Something, Say Something" campaign and to the State's all-hazards alert and notification system, NY-Alert (www.nyalert.gov).
For the first response community, there is information on federal grants, emergency planning guidance, course offerings and schedules of training and exercise programs. There also is an extensive publications section providing public safety information from each of the offices as well as informational videos and social media links.
Please browse the website and learn more about the DHSES mission. Feel free to send us your comments.
With continued knowledge and awareness, we ensure that our communities remain safe, secure and prepared.
About the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services
Welcome to the website of the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.
Created by an act of the State Legislature in July 2010, the Division is comprised of four offices dedicated to the protection of New Yorkers, their property and the State's economic well-being from acts of terrorism and natural and manmade emergencies or disasters. The Division accomplishes this core mission through its offices - Counter Terrorism, Emergency Management, Fire Prevention and Control, and Interoperable & Emergency Communications - who coordinate the response of State agencies in support of local government.
Our website is a roadmap as to what we do and how we do it. It also offers valuable information from our four offices to better protect yourself, your families and your communities. We hope you find it to be a valuable and useful resource.
The women and men of DHSES are dedicated to working closely on a daily basis with all levels of government, the private sector, and volunteer organizations to improve the readiness and response capabilities of communities throughout the Empire State. Thank you for taking the time to visit us. We hope you return often.
Strategic Plan
The creation of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) represents one of the most significant public safety reorganizations in New York State history. The New York State Legislature approved the creation of DHSES with the passage of the State Public Safety Budget in June 2010. Effective July 1, 2010, four existing agencies were merged under DHSES: the Office of Homeland Security (now the Office of Counter Terrorism), the State Emergency Management Office (now the Office of Emergency Management), the Office of Fire Prevention and Control, and the Office Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Coordination. Additionally, as part of the merger, a new Office of Interoperable and Emergency Communications was established within DHSES.
The merger accomplished several historic changes. For the first time ever, the Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) became aligned under the State's public safety directorate, which will help OFPC better provide for the safety of New Yorkers. Additionally, the establishment of the Office of Interoperable and Emergency Communications represents New York State's commitment to one of the most important and challenging issues facing first responders, the ability to maintain operable (day-to-day) emergency communication systems and promote the development of interoperable multiagency systems that work within and across geographic and jurisdictional boundaries. These changes coupled with the unification of the state's counter terrorism and emergency management programs will allow DHSES to better leverage the services and resources aimed at protecting New York State from terrorism and other man-made and natural disasters, threats and emergencies.
Few states confront New York's level of risk. Our state is home to more than 19 million residents, countless visitors, and a variety of critical infrastructure and key resources. New York was the site of the 1993 and 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and is still recognized as the number one terrorist target in the country. In addition to the threat of terrorism, the state faces a significant occurrence of major fires, floods, storms and other hazards annually. As the agency responsible for helping to prepare for and respond to those risks, DHSES must have a well-organized, coordinated and comprehensive strategic plan.
The four Offices within DHSES all maintain important missions and many unique responsibilities. The DHSES Strategic Plan articulates how those efforts contribute to the broader DHSES mission. The Offices also serve many of the same customers, including the Governor, state and local first responders, our federal partners, numerous public and private sector stakeholders, and the residents of and visitors to New York State. The DHSES employees are important customers as well, and they should be able see themselves in this document and understand how their work contributes to the overarching mission of the Division.
It is with our shared customers and mission in mind that this strategic plan was developed.