Immediate Release

Friday, October 19, 2007 
For Information Contact

798-5800

Picente, Leach Announce Funding For Emergency Generator

for North Bay Volunteer Fire Department Fire Station

 

Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. and Oneida County Legislator Norman Leach today announced that the North Bay Volunteer Fire Department is receiving a $15,000 grant to buy an emergency generator for the fire station.

“The fire station is a vital part of the community,” said Leach. “It is a designated shelter for our local elementary school children and the teaching staff in the event of any emergency that would require evacuation of the school,” Leach said. “The fire station has also been designated as an emergency shelter by the Red Cross. With the community counting on the fire station in a time of crisis, we need to be sure that we have heat and lights in the building at all times, even when the power is out.”

Picente said that after learning about the Fire Department’s needs and after conversations with Leach, he was able to direct funding from the NYS Homeland Security Program that receives funding from FEMA's National Preparedness Directorate to address the Fire Department’s vital need.

“When the power is out, the need for the North Bay Volunteer Fire Department to offer shelter to the community is at its peak,” Picente said. “I strongly believe that supporting the ability of our rural fire departments to address the needs of our small communities is one of the top priorities when we talk about homeland security and public safety. The North Bay Volunteer Fire Department has been doing an outstanding job protecting the people of the area for 75 years, and this investment in their fire station will allow them to build upon that record of success as we move into the future.”

Picente thanked Leach for bringing the issue to his attention. “Legislator Leach is out there on the front lines to know the needs of his community and to work with us to address those needs,” Picente said. “Norm made a very clear case that this was a critical need, and I am glad we are able to help North Bay address this need to serve its people in the event of an emergency.”