The Washington County Department of Public Safety hosted Geographical Response Plan working group meetings on February 10, 2016 at the county municipal center. The purpose of the working group meetings were to gather local, county, state and federal officials and response agencies together to provide input and information on locations within their jurisdictions where specific “GRP’s” would be needed and to provide their local knowledge and experience to direct the “GRP” development process.

The process is an initiative of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and NYS Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services / Office of Fire Prevention and Control under Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 125 to provide a planning process for First Responders to respond to rail emergencies involving crude oil and other ignitable materials.

The Department of Public Safety would like to thank our local municipal officials, public safety field agencies, and our state and federal partners who attended and provided essential information to assist in the project goals, helping to keep our communities as safe and our first responders as prepared as possible.