NOVEMBER 7, 2025 – Eighteen New York Army Guard Soldiers, who link the Guard’s Homeland Response Force with state officials in an emergency, got a first-hand look at New York’s disaster response nerve center on Nov. 3.
The Soldiers, assigned to the 153rd Troop Command, visited the New York State Emergency Operations Center, or EOC, located in the basement of Building 22 at the Harriman State Campus in Albany.
The visit was designed to strengthen collaboration between the Guard’s disaster response force, and New York state’s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, according to Lt. Col. Alexander Prezioso, the Homeland Response Force’s senior liaison officer.
The Homeland Response Force, known as the HRF for short, is currently led by the 153rd Troop Command. The HRF provides the Federal Emergency Management Agency with a force that can assist first responders in dealing with a chemical, biological, or radiological attack in the FEMA Region II, including New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Liaison officers and non-commissioned officers represent their command at headquarters and in operations centers to ensure information flow and effective mission planning.
EOC officials explained how the operations center processes information and allocates state resources to respond to disasters.
“We learned how the State EOC prioritizes missions, requests, and logistics based on real-time assessments,” said Prezioso.
When an emergency has been declared and the EOC is operating at full capacity, there are emergency experts from all New York State Emergency Service forces including Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Labor, Division of Military and Naval Affairs just to name a few, officials said.
The tour reinforced the importance of preparedness and cross-organizational understanding before an incident occurs.
Communication between the civilian forces and the National Guard is important in times of crisis, said Sgt. 1st Class Bryan Hart.
“This visit was very helpful,” Hart said. “I learned about some new contacts that will make my job as a liaison officer easier and more efficient.
The tour provided valuable insight into how state agencies monitor, assess, and respond to evolving emergencies. It also helped the team identify how the military can best synchronize efforts with state partners, Prezioso said.
“It helped to strengthen professional relationships with EOC staff and other interagency partners. This is essential for seamless collaboration during future emergencies, operations, and exercises,” he explained.
The Emergency Operation Center was first built in the Cold War Era as a bunker and has been in operation for more than 50 years.
“Visiting the State Emergency Operations Center gave us a clearer picture of how the state manages crises and where the military fits into that structure. The relationships we built today will translate directly into more coordinated, effective responses when it matters most,” Prezioso said.
Learning how to work with state emergency services personnel before a disaster happens is critical for the HRF, said Col. William Snyder, the commander of the 153rd Troop Command Brigade and the HRF.
“Partnership is at the heart of what we do in the National Guard – with state and federal agencies, and the communities we serve,” Snyder said.
Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Stephanie Butler
New York National Guard