St. Lawrence County legislators approve Emergency Preparedness Program funding

Mike Gagliardi, Watertown Daily Times, N.Y.
·1 min read

May 17—CANTON — St. Lawrence County legislators unanimously passed a resolution Monday during the Services Committee meeting authorizing an Emergency Preparedness Program contract for the Public Health Department.

The contract starts July 1 and ends June 30, 2023, said Jolene F. Munger, director of the county Public Health Department.

The cost of the grant contract is $87,445, which is $40 less than what it was last year, she said.

The grant helps fund the county's emergency preparedness coordinator as well as events and supplies needed to prepare for different emergency scenarios — "such as COVID-19 this year," Ms. Munger said.

She said it will also help fund "different training exercises we are required to run," in order to prepare for various emergencies.

The Emergency Preparedness Program is designed to "promote and protect" the health of county residents by planning for health emergencies caused by "deliberate acts, accidents and naturally occurring events," and preparing the health department to respond, according to the resolution.

Local health departments must conduct a health Emergency Preparedness Program as a condition of eligibility for state aid.

The contract will move for final approval during the next full Board of Legislators meeting on June 6.