Dutchess County Department Of Emergency Response

The Dutchess County Department Of Emergency Response has the responsibility of governing Emergency operations in Dutchess County, New York. This encompasses Police, Fire and EMS

Dispatch System

The Dutchess County (DC) radio system has 16 channels, comprising 9 UHF frequencies, that uses continuous tone coded squelch system (CTCSS) to eliminate outside interference and repeater base stations to enhance and extend the mobile communications. The 16 channels are divided into five main categories; Dispatch, Response, Command, FireGrounds & Field Operations. Individual agencies and departments can request their own frequency utilizing the UHF band.

Dispatch, Response, Command and Field Operations have repeater sites at Clove Tower (Union Vale), Illinois Mountain (Highland), Silver Mountain (Fishkill), Hosner Mountain (East Fishkill), Depot Hill Tower (Beekman/Poughquag) and Milan Tower Milan. Beginning on December 1,2008; Dutchess 911 began simulcasting on all towers allowing a call that's dispatched to be heard equally in all areas of the county, without any audio loss

Firegrounds, which are used for multi-agency coordination and can be requested by a Fire Chief or a County Car (Supervisor). The fireground channels utilize a simplex (talkaround) which are commonly used at Structure Fire's, Auto Accident's and MCI's.

County Departments

This is a list of all the emergency services departments in Dutchess County. All emergency services agencies in Dutchess County are issued an Agency Number followed by the apparatus number. Example, agency code number 32, would mean that it is Arlington, and then 45 means the apparatus is a Ladder. The final product looks like this: 32-45

Fire and EMS agencies use the 4 digit number system mentioned above, whereas Police use their agency name rather than a department or agency code. Dutchess County SHERIFF would use an identifier of "DC69", the DC stands for Dutchess County, and the 69 represents the unit number.

Divisions

Dutchess County has numerous county-wide divisions which can respond to handle a wide array of instances;

• Critical Incident Stress Management Team - Are a group of highly trained volunteers who are supplemented by the Dutchess County Department of Mental Hygiene’s Trauma Team. This team is available directly to fire districts, EMS agencies and Police departments in Dutchess County. The team is used for counseling and consoling First Responders who may be faced with horrific or extremely infrequent incidents. The team may respond directly to the scene, or the station where they hold a diffusing and debriefing session where first responders can make their thoughts known. When members call out responding they use the identifier CT-x
• EMS Division - Not necessarily a complete team, in contrast with the rest of the divisions, but as a county, if summoned, the Dispatch Center can mobilize every department in a single dispatch to relocate or respond to incidents that may happen around the state. For instance, on September 11, 2001 Dutchess County ambulances were relocated to New York City to help backfill for departments in the city, whose resources were spread thin. During the Blackout of 2003 ambulances were dispatched to New York City to provide services for residents.
• Fire Investigation Division - This team is a group of volunteer fire investigators which are dispatched to all vehicle or structure fires where arson or foul play is suspected. Their headquarters is at the Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response Dispatch Center in Poughkeepsie. Their identifier, in which members use to call out is FID-x.
• Fire Police Response Team - A team which is available to fire districts that may have a shortage of Fire Police, or may be operating at a scene for a lengthy period of time. They provide scene safety, crowd control, traffic control and scene integrity. Fire Police are sworn Peace Officers in the State of New York. When dispatched members call out responding using RT-x
• Hazardous Materials Division - Dutchess County has a truck, manned by volunteer personnel which can be called to a Haz-Mat scene where fire department apparatus is not sufficient. A Chief places a call to county, requesting the truck and crew, and then are dispatched. The truck is housed at the Communications Center in Poughkeepsie. Members identifiers used for dispatching is HM-x

Departments

See Also

• Police
• Fire Department
• Emergency Medical Services

External Links

• Emergency Response Home
• Dutchess County Sheriff's Office

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