SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE OVER $160,000 COMING TO PORT OF OSWEGO TO BEEF UP PORT SECURITY, SURVEILLANCE, AND IMPROVE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Today, Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Port of Oswego Authority is set to receive $160,400 through the Port Security Grant Program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This funding will be used to build and install a 17 camera Integrated Surveillance System at the Port of Oswego Authority. This surveillance system will be accessible to all levels of law enforcement involving the Oswego Harbor, and will help the U.S. port prepare for local and national emergencies. Schumer and Gillibrand applaud FEMA for the selection of Port of Oswego Authority for this grant program.

"I fought hard to secure this homeland security money because I know the important role the Oswego port plays in Central New York as an economic and jobcreating hub," said Senator Schumer. "This investment in a hightech Integrated Surveillance System at the Oswego Port, accessible to all levels of law enforcement, is a major step towards increasing safety and emergency preparedness in Oswego Harbor. This funding comes at a crucial time and this award helps ensure that the port will remain safe and secure in the event of a local or national emergency."

"We need to keep our ports safe and secure, and this is the right investment for the Port of Oswego," Senator Gillibrand said. "These federal dollars will support our local law enforcement, giving them more of the tools and resources to protect this incredibly important business hub for our state, and keep our families safe."

The Port Security Grant Program funding for the Port of Oswego Authority will be used to build a server and install a 17 camera unit Integrated Surveillance System for the Oswego Harbor. This hightech surveillance system will be detection and IT based and controlled by radio transmitters, and its data will be accessible by all law enforcement including Customs and Border Patrol, the Coast Guard, and the Oswego Police Department. This investment will also benefit the Oswego Police by adding public safety measures on the waterfront and shoreline.

The Port of Oswego is the first U.S. port of call and deepwater port on the Great Lakes from the St. Lawrence Seaway. Located on Lake Ontario on route to the interior of North America, the Port is accessible from any international port in the world. The Port of Oswego's strategic location at the crossroads of the Northeastern North American shipping market, puts it less than 350 miles from 60 million people. Schumer and Gillibrand note that extending that reach to 750 miles puts the Port in the proximity of half of the United States and Canadian population, and half of the business and manufacturing facilities, making the Port of Owego Authority a critical area to protect.

In FY 2011, the Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) provides $235,029,000 for transportation infrastructure security activities to implement Area Maritime Transportation Security Plans and facility security plans among port authorities, facility operators, and State and local government agencies required to provide port security services. The purpose of the FY 2011 PSGP is to support increased portwide risk management; enhanced domain awareness; conduct training and exercises; expansion of port recovery and resiliency capabilities; and further capabilities to prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from attacks involving improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other nonconventional weapons.