Albany Fire Department

Congratulations to our new firefighter recruits sworn in yesterday by Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan and Chief of Department Joseph Gregory! #afdmemories Do you want to be a part of the Albany Fire Department Family visit www.joinafd.org

Tomorrow at 1:30pm Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan and Chief of Department Joseph Gregory will swear in twelve new recruits. Watch live at https://www.facebook.com/albanyNYevents

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Firefighter Peyton Morse.

Thank you to our Capital City Delegation of Senate Vice President Pro Tempore Senator Neil D. Breslin, and Assemblymember Patricia A. Fahy and Assemblymember Jo...hn McDonald for their continued, tireless advocacy of Capital City Funding and the restoration of Albany’s full AIM allocation. The inclusion of this vital funding in both the NYS Senate and Assembly One-House Budget Bills by Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senate Finance Chairperson Krueger, and Assembly Ways and Means Chairperson Weinstein further demonstrates we have made the unique, compelling case Albany is treated like no other city. We appreciate the recognition of this vital funding by Senate and Assembly leadership and implore the Executive Branch to follow the Legislature’s lead and ensure it is included in the final 2021-22 State Budget.

Parking and Transportation Information for Washington Avenue Armory Vaccination Site in Albany Where Can I Park? For those who have vaccination appointments fo...r the Washington Avenue Armory site in Albany, parking WILL NOT be available directly at The Armory. Parking will be available nearby at the New York State Office of General Services (OGS) Elk Street Parking Lot. *Please note that the entrance to this parking lot is located on Spruce Street.* There are several hundred parking spaces available in this lot with a number of handicap parking spaces also available. Getting to The Washington Avenue Armory from the Parking Lot: There are two ways to get to the vaccination site from the OGS Parking Lot: - The Armory is a short walk (4-5 minute) from the lot to the building. - For those who need transportation from the parking lot, CDTA will be running a trolley shuttle to and from the parking lot. This shuttle will run a continuous loop during the operating hours. Limited Handicap Parking Near The Armory: There will be a limited number of on street handicap parking spaces available on Washington Avenue opposite the Washington Avenue Armory. These spaces will be clearly labeled and monitored. *Please note, on-street parking in front of the Washington Avenue Armory will be strictly prohibited. These spaces are designated for the OGS Parking Lot shuttle. I'm not from Albany, How to I Find the Parking Lot? Suggested Transportation Routes via Motor Vehicle to the OGS Parking Lot: Motorists traveling from outside of the City of Albany from the East, West or North, should use Interstate 787 southbound to Exit 4B, Clinton Avenue. Once off the exit continue straight on Clinton Avenue to Lark Street. Take a left on to Lark Street to Spruce Street. Proceed to take a left onto Spruce Street to the parking lot which will be a short distance down the road on the right. Motorists traveling from outside of the City of Albany from the south should use Interstae 787 northbound to Exit 4 (Downtown) Quay Street. Continue on Quay Street to the Clinton Avenue ramp. Once on the ramp continue straight on Clinton Avenue to Lark Street. Once at Lark Street, take a left onto Lark Street to you come to Spruce Street. Proceed to take a left onto Spruce Street to the parking lot which is a short distance down the road on the right. Motorists traveling from inside of the City of Albany should follow posted signs directing motorist to the Elk Street Parking Lot via Lark Street to Spruce Street. All posted on street parking restrictions and metered parking spaces will be enforced per the parking regulations displayed on each roadway. Vehicles in violation are subject to ticketing/or tow.

**City of Albany Asks Residents and Businesses to Prepare for Severe Weather Event** According to the US National Weather Service Albany NY there is a high prob...ability of heavy rains in the Capital Region beginning Thursday evening, December 24 through Friday afternoon, December 25, with the heaviest rains overnight. Based on initial estimates, the City of #Albany could experience 1 to 3 inches of rain within 24 hours, along with wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour. The forecasted rain will fall on a deep snowpack from last week’s historic snowstorm, leading to significant snow melt. Any snow melt combined with 1 to 3 inches of rain could cause localized flash flooding, especially in areas that are prone to flooding. The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch through Friday afternoon for dozens of municipalities across the region, including the City of Albany. Over the past seven days, the City of Albany Department of General Services and New York State Department of Transportation have removed more than 87,000 cubic feet of snow from City streets, and Albany Water crews have been working to clear catch basins in flood prone areas to help mitigate localized flooding. The City of Albany is recommending that residents and businesses prepare by: making sure catch basins are clear removing snow from around fire hydrants keeping belongings off basement floors and other areas prone to flooding clearing rain gutters and directing downspouts away from foundations Important Contacts During Severe Weather: -In an emergency, call 911 -To report flooding or sewer backups, call Albany Water Department Dispatch at 518-434-5322 -To report power outages and determine area repair schedules, call National Grid at 800-642-4272 -To receive text and/or email alerts from the City of Albany, please sign up for Nixle alerts at: http://www.albanyny.org//Depar/PoliceDepartment/Nixle.aspx. For real-time weather information, visit the National Weather Service at www.weather.gov

**City of #Albany Storm Response Update - Thursday, December 17 at 8:30 PM** The City of Albany Department of General Services deployed every available snow rem...oval asset the City owns beginning Wednesday evening when the storm first reached the Capital Region. Those resources continue to be fully deployed to assist with snow removal after the 8th largest storm in the City’s history. Earlier today, Mayor Sheehan requested additional resources from Governor Andrew Cuomo to assist with snow removal given the unprecedented snowfall totals. As a result, the New York State Department of Transportation will deploy significant resources beginning this evening and through tomorrow morning to assist the City of Albany with its snow removal efforts. The City’s Department of General Services crews have been working tirelessly around the clock to remove snow from every neighborhood in the City, and these resources will complement DGS’ continued efforts. The City continues to ask residents to stay off roads as much as possible to allow DGS crews the space needed to safely and efficiently clear the snow.

**City of Albany Snow Storm Response Update - Thursday, December 17 at 5:30 PM** In anticipation of the Snow Emergency that will begin in the City of Albany on ...Friday, December 18 at 8:00 AM, Mayor Sheehan is reminding residents about the Emergency Parking Areas available during the Snow Emergency. The City of Albany Department of General Services is currently clearing snow from the Emergency Parking Areas and expects that an overwhelming majority of the Emergency Parking Areas will be available to park in no later than 9:00 PM this evening (Thursday, December 17). As DGS continues to remove snow from City streets as a result of the significantly larger-than-anticipated snow storm, Mayor Sheehan continues to remind residents to please stay off the roads and allow our DGS crews the space needed to safely and efficiently clear the snow. The City of Albany is also announcing that the following New York State Office of General Services Parking Areas have been have been made available effectively immediately through Friday at 7:00 AM by Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Office of General Services: Madison Avenue Visitor Lot (West of New York State Museum) East Garage (corner of Philip Street and Madison Avenue) Residents must ensure their cars are removed from the two NYS OGS Parking Areas by Friday, December 18 at 7:00 AM. Additional information on Emergency Parking Areas & Important Contact Information can be found in the images below:

Today we honor Veterans for their service. Chief Gregory has shared a message...we thank you all for your service.

When shoveling please remember any hydrants #helpushelpyou #minutesmatter

Services for Firefighter Person have been announced...our thoughts & prayers remain with his family at this difficult time.

*City of Albany Snow Storm Response Update as of Thursday, December 17 at 7:00 AM*

It is with deep regret and sadness that the Albany Fire Department announces the sudden passing of Firefighter Edward T. Person on Saturday, October 17, 2020. Firefighter Person was a 14 year member of our Albany Fire Department, appointed on September 6, 2006. He was assigned to the Rescue Squad D Platoon. Prior to his appointment as a member of our Albany Fire Department, Firefighter Person proudly and honorably served our country as a soldier in the United States Army.... Eddie will be immeasurably missed by his Brother and Sister Firefighters of the Albany Fire Department. Thoughts and prayers of the entire Albany Fire Department are with his family at this most difficult time.

Video from Friday's Swearing-In Ceremony...these 8 new recruits started training today. Congratulations!