Emergency Phone Numbers for NY

[Tom Rankin]

I just came across the Emergency numbers to call in the ADKs and Catskills to get the quickest response for a back country emergency. These are both DEC numbers, said to be manned 24/7.

ADKs - (518) 891-0235

Cats - (845) 255-1323

I just put them in my cell phone. It doesn't always work in the woods, but you never know...

Why not call 911? If you are way out in the woods, a 911 dispatcher would not know what fire/rescue company to call. Quick, what is the closest fire company to Allen, or Rocky?

 

[lumberzac]

Considering the 911 dispatcher’s computers can’t even find my house, I know they’d have trouble finding me in the woods, assuming I could get enough of a signal to place an emergency phone call.
Thanks for the DEC numbers.

 

[jbrown]

Thanks, Tom.
I'm going to write these on my maps and save them on my desktop at home. I don't carry a cell, but always leave an itinerary with my wife and have emergency numbers for her to call if she doesn't hear from me by a certain time.

 

[Tom Rankin]

Thanks, Tom.
I'm going to write these on my maps and save them on my desktop at home. I don't carry a cell, but always leave an itinerary with my wife and have emergency numbers for her to call if she doesn't hear from me by a certain time.

Excellent suggestion to give them to people who are keeping watch!

 

[Stan]

Thanks, Tom. Glad to know the DEC number is still good. In addition, I programmed the NY State Police 518 897-2000.

My cell service (Verizon) has a locator with two selections, "on" and "911 only". I leave it "on" since I'm uncertain whether emergency numbers that are not 911 can access the location if it is set on "911" only. Anyone familiar with that technology?

FWIW I also programmed the Maine State Police 800 482-0730 and NH State Police 800 852-3411. Each of those is 24/7 which I cannot confirm for other search and rescue numbers. At the very least, dispatchers at those centers would know the appropriate agency or "assets" to enlist in an emergency.

Thankfully, I never used one though I did witness a thorough and rapid scramble once in Maine and ... in what seems like a former life ... directed many searches and rescues (at sea) out of the Coast Guard district headquarters. Hence, a bit of complusion for preparation ... Semper Paratus!

 

[Pete_Hickey]

Note that the registers at the trailhead also have emergency phone numbers.

 

[crazymama]

A few years ago I returned a few hours later than my husband expected--it was a warm summer evening and we were taking our sweet time walking out of the woods.

When I finally was able to call him just after 10 pm to say that I was safe, he was a basket case. The thing that bothered me the most were the plans he was about to implement to "rescue" me, which included:

1) calling the Lake Placid police, and then
2) driving up to the mountains and finding me himself (he is a non-hiker)

So since then prior to each hiking trip I give him:

1)the DEC emergency number listed above by Tom (along with detailed itinerary) and

2) a "panic time" after which he has my permission to call the DEC and request help. (Panic time varies according to season, conditions, remoteness, distance, hiking partners, etc, and generally allows as big a margin as I feel I can survive without help.)

Our system works out well for us. He knows when he is allowed to panic, and knows what to do. And I know what time people will start looking for me if circumstances prevent me from walking out.

We've never had to use our "panic" system, but its nice to have it in place.

 

[NumNum]

My cell service (Verizon) has a locator with two selections, "on" and "911 only". I leave it "on" since I'm uncertain whether emergency numbers that are not 911 can access the location if it is set on "911" only. Anyone familiar with that technology?

Stan, by leaving it set to "on" it will allow Verizon to ping your phone for its location, kinda like what they did for the Mt Hood hikers. this could help in finding you as long as your phone is picking up a singnal from the tower, and your phone is with you. I have mine set the same way and carry it with me on hikes. If your phone is set only to 911 then the only time your phone can be located is when someone dials 911 from it, and then the corresponding PSAP needs to have the digital mapping with gps on it, i.e I bet Vermont 911 doesnt yet have Essex Counties gps maps at their PSAP, therefor not being able to locate you, and i can know some 911 calls go to vermont 911 instead of local 911 center due to signal strength. The dispatcher could use a software application like delorm if it is available to them in the PSAP and run the lat/lon they get on incoming 911 calls.

The long and short of it is every hiker needs to always leave an agenda (and stick with it) with someone, so if your late they will come looking for you. As for the local Fire Departments, i know the 911 PSAP also work closely with DEC, anything in the high peaks starts with a call to them (DEC).

 

[Tom Rankin]

Stan, by leaving it set to "on" it will allow Verizon to ping your phone for its location, kinda like what they did for the Mt Hood hikers. this could help in finding you as long as your phone is picking up a singnal from the tower, and your phone is with you. I have mine set the same way and carry it with me on hikes. If your phone is set only to 911 then the only time your phone can be located is when someone dials 911 from it, and then the corresponding PSAP needs to have the digital mapping with gps on it

Thanks for explaining that, I made sure my phone is set to 'ON'.

 

[yvon]

Stan, by leaving it set to "on" it will allow Verizon to ping your phone for its location,

Yes but when you are in an area where you dont have a good or no reception, the phone search the signal. And on that situation you should ran out of battery. You could have no power when it is time to use the phone. Last friday, i left my phone on (i did not know it was on) and it was dead at 2/3 of the hike.
To be verified.

 

[Stan]

Thanks, num-num-num, but with that avatar I have to wonder whether you're just monkeying around with this information.

I guess the only down side of leaving the locater function "on" is my wife might be able to check how long I dawdle at a post hike tailgate.

I have hiked with others who leave their cell phones on only to find it dead sometime before the end of the hike. I don't intend to ignite another cell phone debate but leaving it off seems like a good safety measaure, turn it on when needed.

 

[yvon]

leaving it off seems like a good safety measaure, turn it on when needed.

I think that too.

 

[NumNum]

I leave my cell phone powered down also because of what yvon stated, the phone will go dead constantly searching for service otherwise, and if operating in analog mode the phone uses alot more power than when in digital mode. the other downfall to leaving it powered down is for those who hike alone, if you were to have a incapacitating emergency where you would not be able to turn your phone on. But my locating setting is set to "on". And i dont hike alone.
Be Safe!