In the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks in New York City, Technical Rescue teams from within NYS and across the country responded to Lower Manhattan to support search and rescue operations. These emergency response professionals highlighted how invaluable Technical Rescue teams are to an effective response to terrorism. Since then, DHSES has invested millions of dollars in local Technical Rescue teams because history and experience have proven that they are a critical component of the State's homeland security efforts as they are frequently called upon to support the response and recovery efforts for acts of terrorism and disasters.
The purpose and goals of the Technical Rescue & USAR Grant Program are:
Up to $500,000 was available in 2023.
Up to $5,000,000 was available in 2019.
Grant funding under the Technical Rescue & USAR Grant Program may be used for certain planning, OFPC approved training, exercises, and equipment costs allowable under the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) in order to develop or sustain capabilities for structural collapse, trench, confined space, and rope rescue. Applicants should refer to Exhibit A”, Allowable Costs Matrix” for detailed information on allowable costs. In addition, applicants are required to utilize the Resource Typing Worksheets as a reference point to assist in determining eligible equipment and capability advancement. Applicants should refer to the Authorized Equipment List (AEL) at: https://www.fema.gov/authorized-equipment-list for specific equipment allowability and standards.
NOTE: Organizational, management and administration, and construction costs are not allowable under this grant program.
Eligible applicants are New York State counties and the City of New York.
As a primary objective of this grant program, DHSES supports the statewide development of regional Technical Rescue and USAR response capabilities and encourages multiple-county partnerships to apply for funding.
Applications are to be submitted by December 4, 2025. A similar deadline is anticipated annually.
Up to $500,000 is available in 2025 (FY2023). Applicants who submit a single county application are eligible to apply for up to $50,000. Applicants who submit a multi-county application are eligible to apply for up to $100,000. Cost share/match is not required. The period of performance will be determined once awards have been approved but cannot extend beyond August 31, 2026.