About the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services
Welcome to the website of the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.
Created by an act of the State Legislature in July 2010, the Division is comprised of five offices dedicated to the protection of New Yorkers, their property and the State's economic well-being from acts of terrorism and natural and manmade emergencies or disasters. The Division accomplishes this core mission through its offices - Counter Terrorism, Emergency Management, Fire Prevention and Control, Cyber Security and Interoperable & Emergency Communications - who coordinate the response of State agencies in support of local government.
Our website is a roadmap as to what we do and how we do it. It also offers valuable information from our five offices to better protect yourself, your families and your communities. We hope you find it to be a valuable and useful resource.
The women and men of DHSES are dedicated to working closely on a daily basis with all levels of government, the private sector, and volunteer organizations to improve the readiness and response capabilities of communities throughout the Empire State. Thank you for taking the time to visit us. We hope you return often.
Strategic Plan
The creation of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) represents one of the most significant public safety reorganizations in New York State history. The New York State Legislature approved the creation of DHSES with the passage of the State Public Safety Budget in June 2010. Effective July 1, 2010, four existing agencies were merged under DHSES: the Office of Homeland Security (now the Office of Counter Terrorism), the State Emergency Management Office (now the Office of Emergency Management), the Office of Fire Prevention and Control, and the Office Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Coordination (now the Office of Cyber Security). Additionally, as part of the merger, a new Office of Interoperable and Emergency Communications was established within DHSES.
The merger accomplished several historic changes. For the first time ever, the Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) became aligned under the State's public safety directorate, which will help OFPC better provide for the safety of New Yorkers. Additionally, the establishment of the Office of Interoperable and Emergency Communications represents New York State's commitment to one of the most important and challenging issues facing first responders, the ability to maintain operable (day-to-day) emergency communication systems and promote the development of interoperable multiagency systems that work within and across geographic and jurisdictional boundaries. These changes coupled with the unification of the state's counter terrorism, emergency management and cyber security programs will allow DHSES to better leverage the services and resources aimed at protecting New York State from terrorism and other man-made and natural disasters, threats and emergencies.
Few states confront New York's level of risk. Our state is home to more than 19 million residents, countless visitors, and a variety of critical infrastructure and key resources. New York was the site of the 1993 and 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and is still recognized as the number one terrorist target in the country. In addition to the threat of terrorism, the state faces a significant occurrence of major fires, floods, storms and other hazards annually. As the agency responsible for helping to prepare for and respond to those risks, DHSES must have a well-organized, coordinated and comprehensive strategic plan.
The five Offices within DHSES all maintain important missions and many unique responsibilities. The DHSES Strategic Plan articulates how those efforts contribute to the broader DHSES mission. The Offices also serve many of the same customers, including the Governor, state and local first responders, our federal partners, numerous public and private sector stakeholders, and the residents of and visitors to New York State. The DHSES employees are important customers as well, and they should be able see themselves in this document and understand how their work contributes to the overarching mission of the Division.
It is with our shared customers and mission in mind that this strategic plan was developed.
