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The grant will allow the ambulance corps to produce oxygen and fill their own tanks rather than get them from a contractor, and share this oxygen with local fire and police departments in the Lower Hudson Valley during emergencies, the department said.
“New York’s first responders are second to none, and non-affiliated EMS organizations like Valhalla Volunteer Ambulance Corps are vital to protecting our communities,” Rep. Nita M. Lowey said in a statement. “It’s our responsibility to make sure they have the resources they need, and these types of grants go a long way to help ensure the safety and security of Lower Hudson Valley families. I will continue my work in Congress to make more public safety investments available to local organizations.”
Capt. Steven Marcello of the Valhalla Volunteer Ambulance Corps underscored the need for access to ample amounts of oxygen during emergencies and highlighted the importance this particular FEMA grant has on public safety at the local level.
“We couldn't have obtained this oxygen system without this grant,” Marcello said in a statement. “We noticed the immediate need during Sandy because we didn't have enough oxygen to provide tanks to shut-ins, so we had to take them to hospitals. We just didn't have enough.”
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