Temporary ambulance coverage is in place for Chenango County towns and villages affected by the departure of a paid ambulance company Thursday, an emergency service official said Monday.
People in the region that includes most of the towns of New Berlin, McDonough and Smyrna, can be assured that an ambulance will be available if needed, said county Emergency Management Office Director Matt Beckwith.
Temporary agreements with other municipalities are part of the network providing coverage after Broome County-based Superior Ambulance Services stopped providing service, he said.
The village of New Berlin has an agreement with South New Berlin, Edmeston, Sherburne and Norwich EMS departments, said its mayor, Carol Riley.
"It's working out well," she said. "Our neighboring municipalities are helping us out."
At an upcoming special meeting, the village will discuss the possibility of purchasing an ambulance and having staff to provide service to other parts of the town of New Berlin that lack it and at least one other area, by next January, she said.
Beckwith said other affected locales are also looking at starting their own service.
The county is considering purchasing two advanced life-support "fly cars," possibly by the start of next year, he said. The fly cars would provide emergency services during work hours when enough volunteer staff might not be available.
The county is also working with Cooperstown Medical Transport to provide service on a temporary basis. It has also applied to the state for authorization needed to base ambulances in Chenango County.
CMT owner and chief financial officer Margaret McGown said, "We are doing whatever we can to help."
This includes serving several towns, including Afton and Bainbridge, from its Sidney office, but it has also responded to other locations outside the county.
It is waiting to hear from the Susquehanna Regional EMS Council on an emergency certificate of need.
It will submit a regular application for service that starts and ends in the county by the Nov. 8 EMS Council meeting, she said.
