Emergency Services

The Greene County Department of Emergency Services consists of 911 Dispatching, E-911 Addressing, and Field Coordination, Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Management and the Office of the Greene County Fire Coordinator.

We strive to provide the proper training to fit the needs of our first responders. We are the link in Greene County to state agencies such as NYS Emergency Management Office (OEM), the NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC), and the Regional Emergency Medical Organization (REMO).

In case of an Emergency DIAL 911

When to Call 911
  • For all emergencies that require police, fire, or medical assistance to protect lives or property
  • To report a crime in progress
  • To report a fire
  • If someone is injured or suddenly becomes ill
  • To report a missing person, in particular a child or elderly person who might be in danger

911 is for emergencies only! Do Not Call 911:

  • To ask for phone numbers
  • To ask for traffic reports or directions
  • To report power outages
  • To ask for directions
  • To inquire about local events
Does 911 work from cell phones?

Yes. Wireless calls are routed to the 911 center in the same way as calls made from landline phones.

Does my computer phone work for calling 911?

A lot of computer phones (voip) do not go directly to your local 911 dispatch center. Make sure you contact your phone
provider to test your service

Why does the dispatcher ask so many questions?

911 Operators are trained professionals who will ask pertinent questions to get you the help needed in the shortest time
possible. The questions are designed to send you the proper help at the proper response level. They also assure that they have good directions and landmarks for your location and to verify the information they have on the 911 screen.

When you call 911, you will be asked the following questions:

  1. What’s the address of your emergency?
  2. What’s the phone number you are calling from?
  3. What’s the problem?

Medical Calls:

  1. What’s the age of the patient?
  2. Is the patient conscious?
  3. Is the patient breathing?

Fire/Accident Calls:

  1. What type of fire/accident?
  2. Is anyone trapped?
  3. Any other vehicles/buildings involved?
    • How many vehicles?
    • What type of building?

Depending on your information, the dispatcher may ask more questions to assure you get the help you need.

When should I teach my child to call 911?

Although children have been taught to call 911 as early as two or three years of age, four to five years is usually the best age. At four or five, children can understand what to do under certain circumstances (e.g. House catches on fire, parent is “asleep and won’t wake up”, etc.) use the child’s toy telephone to practice not only calling, but explaining the circumstances that may necessitate calling for help. Parents should enforce the fact that children should only call 911 for emergencies and not to play or just to see if it works.

How does 911 addressing work?

Greene County has adopted the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) standards for addressing and numbering. This numbering system is based on this city-style format. The US Postal Service, in partnership with Greene County, worked closely to make the transition from the old RR1, RD1, etc. format as smooth as possible in the late 90s.  This conversion allows emergency services to better serve the community.

So you understand how we come up with your address, here is a brief explanation.

Starting at the beginning of every road in Greene County, a number is assigned to every twenty six feet of road frontage. Your address will be determined by the placement of your driveway, not where your house sits on the property or the direction your house faces.

How do I request an address for a new property?

To request a 911 address, you may call the 911 Office at (518) 622-3643, or fill out the form below and email or fax it to:
Greene County Emergency Services
25 Volunteer Drive, Cairo, NY 12413
Fax: (518) 622-0572

Please post your 911 address clearly and visibly, and remove old 911 signage on your property.

911 Address Form         Frequently Asked Questions

Non-Emergency Contacts

(518) 622-3643 for Administrative Information

518-622-3548 for Emergencies/Alarm Companies

518-622-3344 for Controlled Burns

Emergency Preparedness

The Regroup mass notification solution is a communication service available to our citizens to receive emergency notifications. We will contact you through Regroup in the event of an emergency or other urgent situation which may affect you.

Sign Up For Emergency Notifications

The Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Program provides the day-to-day coordination of Department’s emergency prevention/mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery activities for Greene County. It serves as a link to the New York State Department of Health, Greene County Department of Emergency Services, and other related organizations.

The Program also houses the Greene NY Medical Reserve Corps – community volunteers who assist communities during public health emergencies, such as natural disasters.

Severe Weather, Disasters, and Emergencies

Fire Safety Tips

Smoke Alarms

  • Make sure your home has working smoke alarms.
  • Place a smoke alarm on every level including inside each sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area. Interconnect the alarms so when one sounds, they all sound.
  • Install smoke alarms and alert devices to assist family members who are deaf or hard of hearing.
  • Alert devices, such as strobe lights, flash when the smoke alarm sounds. Pillow or bed shakers may be useful to wake a person who is sleeping. The shakers are triggered by the sound of the smoke alarm and shake people awake to warn them of a fire.
  • Test your alarms at least once a month. Press each test button to make sure it is working.
  • Review the Consumer Product Safety Commission, www.cpsc.gov, website for information on recalled smoke alarms.

Home Escape Plan

  • Plan your home escape; including two ways out of each room. Share the escape plan with everyone in the family and guests.
  • The plan should include two ways out of every room and an outside family meeting place.
  • Share the escape plan with everyone in the family and guests.
  • Practice your fire drill.
  • Make sure children, older adults, and people with disabilities have assistance.
  • Make sure your home has bright lighting in stairways to prevent falls.
  • Remove clutter to prevent trips and falls to allow for a quick escape.
  • Install handrails along the full length of both sides of the stairs.
  • If you live in an apartment, know the location of all available exit stairs on your floor in case the nearest one is blocked by fire or smoke and use the stairs to get out, never use the elevator unless directed by the fire department.

Fire Response

  • If there is a fire, get outside quickly and stay outside. Then call 9-1-1.
  • If you can’t get outside call 9-1-1. Let the fire department know you can’t get outside. Wave a light-colored cloth or a flashlight near the window, but don’t open the window.
  • If there is smoke, use your second way out. If you must escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke.

Additional Fire Prevention tips

Recall & Product Safety Warnings

Greene County Emergency Services

John P. Farrell, Jr., Director
jfarrell@Greene911NY.gov

Dan King, Deputy Director/Emergency Manager
dking@Greene911NY.gov

James Di Perna, 911 Communication Director
jdiperna@Greene911NY.gov

t. (518) 622-3643
f. (518) 622-0572
e. emergency@Greene911NY.gov
25 Volunteer Drive, Cairo, NY 12413