Long Island, NY – Today, U.S. Senators Charles Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Congressman Steve Israel announced that the Long Island MacArthur Airport is set to receive $725,779 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) funds to design a state-of-the-art fire rescue facility and help create dozens of new jobs. The facility, located at the center of Long Island’s major transportation hub and outside the Island’s coastal flood area, will serve as an Emergency Command Center to support the Town of Islip’s emergency preparedness infrastructure.
“This new command center is a win-win for Long Island,” said Senator Schumer. “When it is built, this new fire rescue building will improve emergency responsiveness in Suffolk County and at the same time create jobs right when we need them most.”
“This is an important investment for Long Island,” said Senator Gillibrand. “These federal dollars will help protect New Yorkers and support Long Island MacArthur Airport’s infrastructure upgrades to effectively respond to emergencies and improve our airports.”
“Hurricane Irene reminded us that we need to be prepared for any and all emergency situations. A new fire rescue facility at Long Island MacArthur Airport will create jobs and ensure we are continuing to improve our emergency response,” said Rep. Israel.
“Beyond the role the airport plays in air travel and the local economy, the airport plays a vital role in emergency preparedness,” said Islip Town Supervisor Phil Nolan. “Whether responding to the urgent fire rescue situation, a hazardous incident, or the annual hurricane season, Long Island MacArthur Airport is an indispensible part of the equation providing critical support services to help protect residents, property and the economic resources of the region.”
“A new ARFF facility is necessary to support a transportation facility that serves more than three million residents of Nassau and Suffolk counties,” said Long Island MacArthur Airport Commissioner Teresa Rizzuto. “Located outside Long Island’s coastal flood area, MacArthur Airport is an ideal setting for a state-of-the-art facility that can help support emergency preparedness both on airport grounds and when necessary, beyond.”
This federal grant is funded under the FAA Airport Improvement Program and will provide funding to design a new Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) building at the airport, which has been designated a central hub for emergencies in Suffolk County. The building would include an emergency operations center, bays for vehicles for fire rescue and hazmat, a dispatch center, and a fire rescue staging room.