Tag: e911

As Broome County recognizes Operation Safe Stop Day, the Office of Emergency Services reports that the County’s School Bus Stop-Arm Camera program has surpassed two thousand violations. School buses throughout Broome County have recorded 2,249 drivers illegally passing them since the program launched in June of 2021. April 2022 currently has the second-highest number of violations – 331 – for any month during the program. December 2021 saw the most with 395. Below is month-by-month breakdown of violations for the current school year.

September 2021 – 203

October 2021 – 256

November 2021 – 294

December 2021 – 395

January 2022 – 209

February 2022 – 226

March 2022 – 286

Operation Safe Stop Day is a national day of advocacy that reminds motorist of the dangers of illegally passing school buses, along with the tickets and fines that go along with associated violations. Each initial violation comes with a $250 fine which is issued to drivers by mail; second and third violations in an 18-month period are $275 and $300 respectively. The fines are set by the New York State law which permitted local governments to create their own stop-arm camera programs.

Broome County’s program was created through a 2019 local law passed by the County Legislature. The program, which is managed by the Broome County Office of Emergency Services, outfits school buses in Broome County with stop-arm cameras that automatically record any vehicle that illegally passes. For more information visit: https://broomecountyny.gov/e911/Stop-Arm

After more than five months of providing tests for Broome County residents, the COVID-19 rapid testing at the Broome County Health Department will not reopen. Earlier this week, the site closed after sustaining damage from high winds on Monday. After evaluating the current need for testing, along with the availability of tests throughout the community, the Office of Emergency Services, in consultation with the Broome County Health Department, made the decision to not reopen the site.

At-home rapid test kits will continue to be available to the public for free at the Broome County Health Department’s front desk. Additionally, testing is available at local pharmacies, as well as local healthcare providers.

The rapid testing site opened on September 24, 2021 and administered a total of 10,480 during its more than five months in operation. At its peak, the site tested more than 200 people daily; in recent weeks, however, the site has averaged between 20-30 tests per day.

A little more than halfway through the school year, more than 1,500 violations have been recorded by the County’s School Bus Stop Arm Camera program. In February, the program recorded 226 violations, bringing the total for the 2021-2022 school year to 1,583. The highest number of violations for any month this school year was 395 in December; below is month-by-month breakdown of violations.

September 2021 – 203

October 2021 – 256

November 2021 – 294

December 2021 – 395

January 2022 – 209

February 2022 – 226

Each initial violation comes with a $250 fine which is issued to drivers by mail; second and third violations in an 18-month period are $275 and $300 respectively. The fines are set by the New York State law which permitted local governments to create their own stop-arm camera programs. Broome County’s program was created in 2019 when the County Legislature passed a local law to allow for the creation of a demonstration program for stop-arm cameras on school buses in Broome County. The program includes outfitting school buses in Broome County with stop-arm cameras to catch drivers illegally passing school buses. The cameras are mounted on the driver’s side of the bus and automatically record any vehicle that illegally passes.

For more information head to: https://broomecountyny.gov/e911/Stop-Arm

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Sheriff’s Office Issues Travel Advisory for the County

Due to hazardous conditions caused by the overnight winter storm, BC Transit is temporarily suspending service and all Broome County Parks are closed until further notice. BC Transit will suspend service until at least 12:00 PM Sunday; conditions will be reassessed at that time and service may continue to be suspended if necessary. Additionally, all Broome County Parks are closed Sunday and scheduled to reopen Monday morning, weather permitting.

The Broome County Sheriff’s Office has also issued a travel advisory for the County. This advisory does not restrict travel, but residents are encouraged to avoid it if possible and use extreme caution on the roads if travel becomes absolutely necessary.

***UPDATED TO REFLECT AVAILABILITY AT EACH SITE***

               Broome County is taking action to combat the largest spike of the COVID-19 pandemic to date by distributing at-home testing kits to residents in the community. Broome County’s Office of Emergency Services has scheduled a drive-through distribution event for tomorrow, January 5^th, from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at Otsiningo Park.

“Testing will be key to mitigating the current spread of COVID-19 and we encourage everyone to get tested at the first sign of symptoms,” said County Executive Jason Garnar. “With at-home test kits difficult to find right now, we are hopeful that this effort will get more people tested and ultimately into isolation if they are positive.”

There will be a limit of two boxes of tests (four tests total) per car and are on a first-come, first-serve basis. For those who cannot make it to Otsiningo Park tomorrow, tests will also be available at the following locations:

Broome County Office Building (NO MORE AVAILABLE)

Broome West Senior Center (NO MORE AVAILABLE)

Northern Broome Senior Center (NO MORE AVAILABLE)

Eastern Broome Senior Center (NO MORE AVAILABLE)

Broome County Library (NO MORE AVAILABLE)

Deposit Free Library (NO MORE AVAILABLE)

Lisle Free Library 

George F. Johnson Memorial Library (NO MORE AVAILABLE)

Nineveh Public Library* (EXPECTED TO DISTRIBUTE FRIDAY DUE TO DELIVERY ISSUE)

Fenton Free Library (NO MORE AVAILABLE)

Vestal Public Library (NO MORE AVAILABLE)

Your Home Public Library (NO MORE AVAILBLE)

Mary Wilcox Memorial Library (NO MORE AVAILABLE)

Positive results can be reported  and case interviews can be completed through the County’s website. Testing continues to be available Monday through Friday at the County’s rapid testing site at the Broome County Health Department and Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at the State-run site at the former Davis College.

A major milestone is being completed as part of a Broome County-wide project to upgrade the Public Safety Radio system. The final tower is being installed in Deposit that will help the County put the new communications network online in 2022. When finished, the system, led by the Broome County Office of Emergency Services, will assist 55 different first responder agencies from police, fire, and EMS throughout the County.

“Communication between residents, dispatchers, and first responders can literally be the difference between life and death. The radio network has gaps that need to be filled for the safety of our community,” said Broome County Executive Jason Garnar. “For too long have we made small improvements here and there to keep the system going; it’s time that we move this communications network into the 21^st Century and we’ll finally be doing that next year.”

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The current system consists of 12 different radio systems with portions dating back to 1970, covering 55 different primary agencies. Major radio coverage gaps in the current system are a safety issue for first responders. Systems operate on three different “bands” meaning the ability for one unit to talk to another one for mutual aid is virtually impossible. For example, three different fire departments who respond to a fire in mutual aid may not be able to communicate with each other.

The upgraded public radio system will meet the county’s needs for the next 20 years. Equipment will be provided to all Police, Fire, EMS, and DPW departments, allowing all to communicate with each other. All users will be able to change to an emergency channel and speak directly with a 911 dispatcher.

The $23 million project is being supported through temporary surcharges added to residents’ landline and wireless phone bills; a change that was made through a rule change at the state level with the help of Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo and Senator Fred Akshar. 

It’s National School Bus Safety Week and Broome County is using the week of awareness to once again remind drivers of its Stop-Arm Camera program. The program has been extremely successful in catching drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses, tallying 362 violations since the start of the 2021 school year.

In 2019 the Broome County Legislature passed a local law allowing local school districts to outfit their buses with stop-arm cameras. When a bus is illegally passed, the camera captures video of the vehicle, the extended stop-arm it is passing, and the violator’s license plate. A ticket is then automatically issued by mail to the driver to whom the vehicle is registered. A first offense carries a fine of $250; second and third offenses within an 18-month period are worth $275 and $300 respectively. The ticket also includes information that can be entered online to watch camera footage of the violation. Failure to pay the fine will result in a delinquency notice and carries an additional late fee penalty.

For more information, and to find a monthly tally of local violations, visit broomecountyny.gov/e911/stop-arm.

With the new school year underway, Broome County Executive Jason Garnar was joined by Broome County’s Office of Emergency Services and representatives from the Union-Endicott School District to remind the public that of the County’s School Bus Stop Arm Camera program.

In 2019 the Broome County Legislature passed a local law to allow for the creation of a demonstration program for stop-arm cameras on school buses in Broome County. The program includes outfitting school buses in Broome County with stop-arm cameras to catch drivers illegally passing school buses. The cameras are mounted on the driver’s side of the bus and automatically record any vehicle that illegally passes. Violators are then issued tickets by mail.

During a one-month warning period last spring, 120 violations were recorded by local school buses. The program then went live in June and caught 59 drivers illegally passing buses throughout the summer, a time when far fewer buses are on the road.

For more information head to: https://broomecountyny.gov/e911/Stop-Arm

Broome County Executive Jason Garnar announced today the appointment of Patrick Dewing as the new Director of the Office of Emergency Services. Dewing replaces Michael Ponticiello, who left the position in June to become Deputy Broome County Executive for Physical Services. For the past two months, Raymond Serowik has served as Interim Director and will return to his role as Emergency Medical Services Coordinator.

“Pat’s experience in our Office of Emergency Services, as well as time spent in our Security Division has prepared him well for this new role,” County Executive Garnar said. “He has been a leader in the department throughout the COVID pandemic and is able to hit the ground running as we continue to deal with this public health emergency as well as the numerous other areas OES handles.”

“I’m excited to transition into this role and look forward to working with the people who are the backbone of Broome County Emergency Services,” Dewing said. “We have a lot of work ahead of us with COVID, the first full year of our School Bus Stop Arm Camera program, continuing to assist our EMS and volunteer fire companies, and a brand new emergency communications network. But I know with the dedicated staff we have we are well prepared to take on the myriad of responsibilities in front of us.”

A Town of Fenton native, Dewing has worked for Broome County for 14 years, first in Broome County’s Security Division and most recently as Emergency Management Assistance Coordinator. During his tenure with the County, Dewing has developed and supervised a number of training programs, led logistics efforts throughout the COVID pandemic, and also implemented the School Bus Stop Arm Camera program.

To assist residents dealing with continued service interruption, NYSEG will begin distribution of dry ice and bottled water Friday morning. Affected NYSEG customers can pick up ice and water at the following locations, beginning at 11:00 AM Friday:

Boulevard United Methodist Church; 113 Grand Blvd, Binghamton

East Maine Fire Station; 849 E Maine Rd, Johnson City

Endwell Fire Station #1; 3508 Country Club Road, Endwell

Vestal Fire Station #3; 2164 Owego Rd, Vestal

Customers are asked to bring identification to verify they live in an affected outage area. As of Thursday afternoon, more than ten thousand NYSEG customers in Broome County were still without power following Wednesday evening’s severe storms. NYSEG expects almost all power to be restored by Saturday evening.