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Genesee County dispatchers pitching in to help communication center in Broom County

By Howard B. Owens

As counties on the east end of the state continue to struggle with the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene, emergency workers in Genesee County continue to pitch in and do what they can to help.

Currently, four of the Sheriff's Office emergency dispatchers are being deployed for a couple of days in Broome County.

The will provide a "much needed break," as one dispatcher put it, to the overextended crew in Broome.

Sheriff Gary Maha said interagency cooperation like this is common in New York.

He also praised the dispatchers making the trip.

"It shows they care," Maha said. "We try to help other counties whenever we can."

All expenses incurred by the Sheriff's Office for the deployment will be reimbursed by Broome County, Maha said.

Last week, volunteer firefighters from five departments traveled to Schoharie County. Besides helping with clean-up work, the volunteers also ended up working a structure fire about 30 miles from their base.

Another deployment of volunteer firefighters from Genesee County to the storm-ravaged region is being planned.

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