GREENBURGH, NY - Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) yesterday joined local fire fighters participating in a training program for the Westchester County Special Operations Task Force.

“The terrorist attacks of September 11th and recent terror alerts remind us that we simply cannot be too prepared. It is critical that we do everything we can to support our first responders on the front lines here at home,” said Lowey, who observed fire fighters training in hazardous material suits at Ridge Road Park in Hartsdale.

The Task Force is a partnership between local municipalities and the County designed to protect our region.  The Task Force’s mission is to be able to respond within minutes to WMD, Hazardous Materials and Technical Rescue Incidents with on-duty personnel.  The fire departments involved are organized into squads, which, when responding together in a large scale emergency or terrorist attack, will operate under a unified command. 

In order to become certified to serve on the force, each trainee must complete a one-day training session, which includes classroom instruction followed by exercises using hazardous materials equipment.

Fire departments participating in the Task Force include White Plains, Mt. Vernon, New Rochelle, Yonkers, Scarsdale, Eastchester, Fairview, Greenville, Hartsdale, and Mohegan Lake.

As a Member of the Appropriations Committee and the Select Committee on Homeland Security, Lowey secured $500,000 in the Fiscal Year 2003 Appropriations bill to train and equip fire fighters to participate in the Westchester County Special Operations Task Force. $140,000 was used to hire instructors and train fire fighters. Hazardous materials equipment such as protective suits and instruments was purchased with the remaining $360,000.